Baby chicks grits

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wyoDreamer said:
I am assuming that is the grit you use for parakeets?
I am not sure that will be big enough for chicks - if you have some, try it. I bought Chick Grit for my 4 week olds from the farm store and the pieces are bigger than that stuff. The size of the pieces is closer to the gravel you buy for fish tanks ... but don't use that stuff! Most of the fish gravel is round pebbles and treated to keep it shiny and help prevent algae growth on it.
Chicken grit is usually granite and is angular.
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Wow I didn't no they can swallow a grit that big .. thanks for the info.. but is it there animal instinct to eat the grit like that ?
 
Linda1218 said:
Can I give 3 weeks old chicks bird grits kayte brand?
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Now I'm confused. Do you mean grit or grits?
Grit is an insoluble stone to aid digestion. Grits are a dish of boiled cornmeal.

If you are talking about grit, just buy chick grit. Almost all feed stores carry it.
As was said, the type used for canaries would be too small to be of benefit to chicks.

Be especially careful not to get the high calcium Kaytee grit. That would be too much calcium for chicks.

As others have said, grit isn't absolutely necessary if only feeding chick starter due to the fact that the grains are already ground. However I started giving chicks grit several years ago after a couple experiences. The chick starter can be further broken down in the gizzard with the assistance of grit. Chicks crave grit. Grit helps develop the gizzard.
Several years ago I sold some chicks to a friend. She ended up with several cockerels. I traded a pullet for one of her cockerels. I wasn't planning on using her cockerel for breeding and I quarantined him. I'm glad I did because he was loaded up with mites.
Anyway, I butchered him along with some of my cockerels - same breed, same line from the same hatch. The only difference is that my birds get grit all the while they are growing. Hers didn't. My birds' gizzards were twice the size of her cockerel's gizzard.

To be effective, grit needs to be the appropriate size for the age of the bird (size of gizzard). If it is too small, it won't lodge in there and just pass right through.
Poultry grit comes in 4 sizes. #4 is for adult turkeys. #1, also known as chick grit, is for chicks through 3 weeks of age. #2 grit is for chicks through 7 weeks and above 7 weeks they need #3 or adult grit.
 
ChickenCanoe said:
Poultry grit comes in 4 sizes. #4 is for adult turkeys. #1, also known as chick grit, is for chicks through 3 weeks of age. #2 grit is for chicks through 7 weeks and above 7 weeks they need #3 or adult grit.
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I did not know this. I have only seen Chick Grit and Chicken Grit, 2 sizes, in my feed stores.
 
That's all most carry.
In fact the last time I bought 'chicken grit' at a feed store across the river, I think it was #2. It wasn't nearly as big as the adult grit I used to get from our co-op.

This is what our co-op used to get.
https://www.tccmaterials.com/userfiles/file/CSgritdata.pdf
 
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