Baby Chicks Eating Sand Dustbath

[HUGEPurplePuppy]

Hello, I was wondering if I should be worried about my chicks eating sand. I saw a few of the chicks (they are 12-14 days old) appearing to try to bathe in their pine shavings. So I went down to the stream, and got some of the sand that is on the edges, sanitized it in the oven, and gave it to the chicks in a pie pan. They seemed nervous about it at first, but an hour later I peaked in and they were all eating it!

Am I being over cautious by taking it away? Or should I trust them to do what nature tells them to? Should I put some grit in the dust bath in case that’s what they

Also sorry for an question in a question, has anyone sifted normal adult grit to give to chicks instead of buying chick grit?

 

[Wezdin]

They are eating it for grit, unless they are going crazy on it i would say it's okay.

 

[HUGEPurplePuppy]

They are eating it for grit, unless they are going crazy on it i would say it's okay.

Thanks for the reply! How would you constitute going crazy lol.

 

[Wezdin]

Thanks for the reply! How would you constitute going crazy lol.

If their crops are stuffed full of it because they think it's food, but i would say they are all good.

 

[rosemarythyme]

And yes you can try sifting for chick grit sized particles from adult grit, though some brands probably have fewer tiny bits than others, so the yield may or may not be great.