Can I put oyster shell & grit in the same dish?

[Heathercp]

I'm getting set up to pick up my chickens (once the blizzard on the eastern seaboard ends) and I've already got bags of grit and oyster shell, but am not sure quite how I want to offer it to them. I've seen some pretty neat ideas, but I'm not yet sure what will work best in our setup.

I'll pick up six pullets and four chicks. We're allowed 10 chickens and our coop is a 7'x8' walk in shed. I'd be just as happy if we didn't end up with a rooster because I'm not looking forward to my first chicken dispatch, but we'll see.

So my question is: Can I put oyster shell and grit into the same dish (something like a cat food bowl)? Most people seem to offer them separately, so I'm just wondering if there's some reason why they shouldn't be in the same container.

 

[saladin]

If your chickens are on dirt and you are giving them a good laying ration (I'm assuming they are old enough to lay) then you do not need either one: just a waste of money. saladin

 

[Heathercp]

The attached run has a dirt floor. Right now it's still full of leaves, but from everything I've read, they'll reduce the leaves to nothing rather quickly. We'll also let them out to free range in the back yard when we're home, which is most of the time since I'm a stay-at-home mom.

Right now I've got layer rations from Southern States, but I'm going to pick up some Layena from another feed store. The layer rations from Southern States say the feed is for layers and broilers, but I've read elsewhere that layers and broilers need different rations. That left me kind of confused, I have to say.

Our yard is heavily wooded and has a thick layer of leaves (we put all the leaves from our yard out back each winter), hence there are loads and loads of crawly things for the chooks to eat. There should be plenty for them to eat if they're up for foraging. We're getting BAs - and my friend says they're really hardy. We'll see how they like our set up.

 

[saladin]

Sounds like they'll do great to me. saladin

 

[suebee]

You said they were pullets, which means not of laying age. Don't give oyster shell or layer feed until they are laying eggs.
Also, be careful of free ranging young chicks, wait until they're at least 3 months old.
I've lost young ones to hawks.

 

[teach1rusl]

I only offered grit (not oys. shell) until my girls were around 17 or 18 weeks. I've only read about offering them separately, but I have put both in one bowl, kind of just side by side (although of course as they pick through it's gotten mixed). I figure their bodies tell them what they need for the most part...???

 

[MareeZoCool]

I mixed the grit & oyster shells in with their feed, let them choose their treasures as they please.

 

[FortWorthChicks]

Not laying = no oyster shell needed, grit needed.
Laying= Oyster shell free choice, no grit needed.

Not laying on dirt with pebbles and such= no grit needed

correct me if I am wrong.

 

[mdbokc]

Mine eat very little grit and oyster shell in the summer and grazing months. When winter hits, they go through the grit and oyster shell (separate bowls) pretty heavy even with good layer feed (they are layers). I make it available and let them decide. It's not like I have hundreds or even dozens of birds. The cost is minimal, in fact, the least expensive aspect of having chickens.

Starter/Grower Feed for chicks.

Right..no oyster shell needed before laying.

 

[Ridgerunner]

First, I'll address your specific question. The reason I would recommend not mixing them is "What proportions do you use?" How do you know how much grit they need or how much extra calcium they need? If you offer them separately (and not mix either of them with their feed) they can take as much of either as they wish. If yu start mixing them, you force them to eat more than they want of one to get enough of the other or shorting themselves on one as they have plenty of the other. I believe in moderation. Too little or too much can both cause problems.

I'm also confused on the same feed for layers and broilers. Makes no sense to me unless maybe it is for chicks, not larger chickens. I don't know if it will help you, but I'll give you a link to an Oregon State site that talks about the difference in chicken feeds.

Oregon State Feeding Chickens
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/html/pnw/pnw477/#anchor1132074

I agree. You do not need to feed the pullets layer until they are 20 weeks old or they actually start laying. Layer contains extra calcium. Excess calcium can, not absolutely will but can, damage a growing chicks internal organs.

When they are laying, let their egg shells tell you if they need any more calcium than they are getting from the layer and whatever creepy crawlies they find to dine upon when they are out roaming around. They can also get extra calcium from the pebbles they pick up as grit if you are in limestone country. If your egg shells are hard, they are getting enough calcium. You don't need to add more.

Grit can be a little harder than extra calcium to determine if you need to offer any. It depends on the type of soil you have and how much access they have to the soil. If your soil is sandy or rocky, they will get plenty of pebbles for grit on their own if they have access to the soil. They can even find enough in a mostly clay soil if they have access. If you live in a swampy delta area, for example, where you cannot find a rock to save your life, they probably need grit. I have fairly rocky soil, but mine are confined to a run since they like to play in the road and that is not good for them or the passing drivers. I gather up small rocks from the gravel road and my driveway and throw them in the run just to make sure they have enough. I figure at some point they will find and use most of the small rocks available to them in their limited area. If your road is salted for the ice, I would not use that for grit. A lot of extra salt is not good for them.

Hope this helps some. Good luck!!!