Can I use sweet pdz in with young chicks?

[townhen]

My chicks are here, all safe and sound from Meyer Hatchery. They were on paper towels for the first full day, and this morning I put down some pine shavings. Is it ok to put down some Sweet PDZ, too? If they eat it, would it just be like chick grit (which I do not have on hand here, yet)?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I would not put Sweet PDZ in there when they are babies.

I like to use shavings but covered with paper towels for the first three days. I would use sand instead if you want a non-shavings bedding. Or the wood pellets they sell (that is what our feed store uses for their baby chicks).

Sand will serve as grit for baby chicks until a few weeks old then they need larger sharp grit. Sweet PDZ is not grit.

You don't want them eating the wrong thing and clogging up their little crops (impacted crop). I like to sprinkle a bit of chick grit like salt over the food until they are two weeks old then they get a pan of grit. Under two weeks they tend to overingest the grit from my experience.

I have brooded on sand as well but the tiny poos are well nigh impossible to scoop out with the kitty litter scoop so I wait until they are older. That is what I use in the coop and nestboxes (wear n95 mask).

As long as they are just eating commercial feed they technically don't even need grit. However, I like to give it after the first few days just in case they need it (wood shaving ingestion) and because at one week I offer tiny (1/4 inch) pieces of grass for them.

Enjoy your chicks!

 

[townhen]

So is there a difference between chick grit and chicken grit (are they different products)? I'll run to TSC tomorrow and buy some there. So far the chicks don't seem interested in eating the shavings, just picking at them and dropping them, but I'll cover them up for another day just to be on the safe side. Thanks!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

So is there a difference between chick grit and chicken grit (are they different products)? I'll run to TSC tomorrow and buy some there. So far the chicks don't seem interested in eating the shavings, just picking at them and dropping them, but I'll cover them up for another day just to be on the safe side. Thanks!

Chick grit is tiny= size #1 cherrystone grit
#2 cherrystone grit is for ages 4-6 weeks
#3 is what I buy for adult chickens
#4 is for turkeys

Cherrystone is a brand:

http://www.tccmaterials.com/product.cfm?id=605
scroll down to what size do I need

I buy this at my feed store. Whatever brand they sell would be fine. They outgrow the chick grit so fast that I just buy a little bag now. I tried buying the large bag once.

I buy the big bags of #3 for my adult fowl. Grit was found in the gizzard aged up to 1 year in one study I read, so they don't need a lot. A free choice pan is good to provide. Give them free choice oyster shell too is my advice when they reach laying age.

You are welcome!