Calcium Carbonate grit vs granite grit

[dandread]

I have 5 month old chickens that I assume are close to laying. So I bought them layer pellets (never used pellets until now.) chickens not too enthused.

Since I traveled to the feed store that is a distance away I decided to buy a large bag grit since it is abiut 60% cheaper than the small bags I get.i was using 5/16 granite grit.

All they had was calcium carbonate grit in the large bags. I was hesitate to get it since it seems granite is what many use.

The store told me it would be fine and that many customers get it.

What do you think? Not too much calcium since they are not laying yet?

 

[R2elk]

I have 5 month old chickens that I assume are close to laying. So I bought them layer pellets (never used pellets until now.) chickens not too enthused.

Since I traveled to the feed store that is a distance away I decided to buy a large bag grit since it is abiut 60% cheaper than the small bags I get.i was using 5/16 granite grit.

All they had was calcium carbonate grit in the large bags. I was hesitate to get it since it seems granite is what many use.

The store told me it would be fine and that many customers get it.

What do you think? Not too much calcium since they are not laying yet?

Whoever is labeling calcium carbonate as grit is committing fraud. Calcium carbonate is the same as giving oyster shell for laying hens. It is not grit and will not serve as grit.

 

[dandread]

 

[Chickassan]

Wow, i looked it up and everywhere this is advertised it is done as a grit replacement. When your girls start laying they'll appreciate the stuff but they still need rock grit.

 

[R2elk]

View attachment 1260261

Someone should file a class action lawsuit against them for committing fraud. Calcium carbonate is not a substitute for grit and using it as such could cause severe problems for young males that can be harmed by high levels of calcium.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

There is usually a high level of calcium carbonate in granite. Granite is formed when molten magma rises into close proximity to the Earth's surface which is rich in calcium carbonate or limestone. Limestone is nothing more than consolidated petrified oyster-shells.

Marble is another form of chicken grit and marble is almost exclusivity calcium carbonate and in addition marble is almost as hard as granite. Marble is calcium carbonate, limestone, or oyster-shells that has been put under extreme pressure and heat for a very long time.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Read the label that lists the contents. Then report what it says.

 

[R2elk]

There is usually a high level of calcium carbonate in granite. Granite is formed when molten magma rises into close proximity to the Earth's surface which is rich in calcium carbonate or limestone. Limestone is nothing more than consolidated petrified oyster-shells.

Marble is another form of chicken grit and marble is almost exclusivity calcium carbonate and in addition marble is almost as hard as granite. Marble is calcium carbonate, limestone, or oyster-shells that has been put under extreme pressure and heat for a very long time.

I don't know your source for this information but what I have read does not indicate that calcium carbonate is a large component of granite.

https://nature.berkeley.edu/classes/eps2/wisc/granite.html

 

[dandread]

The ingredients is ground limestone. So my chickens are not laying but at 18 weeks are close to laying. Should I wait to use this until they are laying.

They are doing some grazing every other day at a minimum of two hours. Our soil has a variety of sizes of peebles, dirt.

 

[R2elk]

The ingredients is ground limestone. So my chickens are not laying but at 18 weeks are close to laying. Should I wait to use this until they are laying.

They are doing some grazing every other day at a minimum of two hours. Our soil has a variety of sizes of peebles, dirt.

Based on these statements, you should not need to add grit. The stuff in the bags is an acceptable substitute for oyster shell for laying hens.

The company's claims that it is acceptable as grit is an outright lie. Calcium carbonate from crushed limestone is not an acceptable substitute for grit. It is far too soft to aid in grinding food and contains far too much calcium to be used for anything other than a calcium substitute.