Can't find grit the right size

[BWchicken]

I have bantams. They won't eat parakeet grit (which is just sand). They do try hard to eat the granite chicken grit I bought at TSC but it is way too big for them and they give up. I can't find a size in between, not even in the feed stores.

Will a coffee grinder be strong enough to grind the granite grit into smaller pieces? I'd be more than willing to buy one if it would work.

Thanks

 

[chickenbottom]

why not a home made grit egg shells you can do the size to how ever you want

 

[Quack Shack]

Great suggestion, ChickenBottom. I do that as well. Wash, bake the shells in the oven (just pop them in alongside dinner), let cool and crush. My bantys also find stones free ranging in the yard. When the grass gets a bit thick for them in the Spring, I'll dig up a shovel of some gravel and drop it in their pen. It always disappears quickly.

 

[pixie74943]

Thought that Egg shell grit was different to actual grit. Cause egg shells are calcium and not good for grinding up food.


I found a big pet shop, sold puppies kitten and goldfish, and chicken an horse feed. And in the parrot section they had shell grit. Would definately work for banties, its pretty small.

Personally I wouldnt put it in the coffee grinder, but I dont know how strong your coffee grinder is.

 

[chickenbottom]

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thank you thats what mine get as well and some little pebbles i throw them now and again

 

[chickenbottom]

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egg shell works with like pebbles or small stones. and if its shell grit its egg shells

 

[MariposaMama]

My feed store sells chicken grit and chick grit. The chick grit is red and much smaller pieces but not as small as sand. Maybe that would work. I don't remember the brand but you might try a google search for chick grit and see what comes up.

 

[pixie74943]

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egg shell works with like pebbles or small stones. and if its shell grit its egg shells

I always thought of it this way.

Egg Shell vs Grains.. The egg shell is gonne get pulverised, grains will be untouched.
Granite/Gravel vs Grains... The grains are gonna get ground up.

How is Egg Shell supposed to work well as grit if its softer than the foods being eaten

 

[chickenbottom]

Quote:
egg shell works with like pebbles or small stones. and if its shell grit its egg shells

I always thought of it this way.

Egg Shell vs Grains.. The egg shell is gonne get pulverised, grains will be untouched.
Granite/Gravel vs Grains... The grains are gonna get ground up.

How is Egg Shell supposed to work well as grit if its softer than the foods being eaten

it wont be ground up to make a powder it will be crushed to chunks of egg i dont see how its softer if its harder and in chunks

 

[pixie74943]

Quote:
I always thought of it this way.

Egg Shell vs Grains.. The egg shell is gonne get pulverised, grains will be untouched.
Granite/Gravel vs Grains... The grains are gonna get ground up.

How is Egg Shell supposed to work well as grit if its softer than the foods being eaten

it wont be ground up to make a powder it will be crushed to chunks of egg i dont see how its softer if its harder and in chunks

What I'm saying is, you find the hardest thing your chickens eat. Right now I'm thinking about the various grains that come in my chicken feed. If I rubbed the grains against the egg shell, the shell would break before the grains.

And the point of grit is to break up food right?