Ate all the grit

[LGJ3]

Hey,

So I have 30 Guineas and 28 Orpingtons all about 7 weeks old. So this morning I decided to stop salting their feed with grit and placed a small feeder out with about 2 cups of grit in it. Came back about two hours later and it was all gone. I thought that by this age they would know how much they needed, so that raises a couple of questions. Have I not been giving them enough, they thought it was food, or they really needed it. I am unsure if I should more out for free choice, or go back to just salting their food. Your experiences with grit and chicks of this age will be appreciated.

 

[Free Feather]

Is it possible that they could have dumped it?

 

[LGJ3]

Nope checked the floor, nothing there. I wish they cleaned up their feed as well as they did the grit.

 

[Weehopper]

If you have a dog, did the dog have access?

 

[LGJ3]

Nope, no dogs, cats or any other critters.

 

[tsmith91]

Mine did the same thing when I first put a bowl of grit out I kept refilling it and now it seems like they hardly touch it

 

[Free Feather]

They probably just needed it.

 

[curious0205]

How old are your chickens/guineas that you are feeding the grit to?

 

[Nupe]

They probably just needed it.

Agreed. 2 cups is not really a whole lot of grit for nearly 60 birds. If you had been sprinkling it prior, then you have no idea whether or not they were getting enough. I would say to refill it a few times and see if it slows down. I'm guessing it will.

 

[LGJ3]

Sounds like a plan to me.