- Sep 3, 2013
- 47
- 10
- 24
I read on here all the time that people offer oyster shell and grit "free choice", most often saying that they will ingest only what they need. How in the world are you able to do this? I can't offer mine any without them devouring every last speck of it in one sitting.
I have 8 pullets: 6 are GC; 1 BO; 1 EE. I don't normally need to offer grit since there is a lot of fine gravel and sand where they free range. However, they can't get to it readily when there is snow cover or the ground is frozen hard. So when the first snow began to fly here, I put a metal rabbit feeder in the run and filled it with grit (about 2 cups worth). I looked in about 30 minutes later and much to my surprise, it was all gone! I waited a couple of days and tried again, this time with about half as much grit. Same thing happened. I finally took to just sprinkling a tablespoon worth over their fodder mats and in their BOSS ration.
Once the Comets began to approach POL, I filled the rabbit pan with oyster shell (again, about 2 cups worth). Just as with the grit, they devoured it all within 30 minutes. I tried again for several days with smaller amounts (1/4 - 1/2 cup), but the only thing that happened is the three birds highest on the pecking order would eat it all leaving none for the others. I can't imagine that any chicken could possibly need that much oyster or grit in a day (especially the BO and EE whom I wouldn't expect to start laying for many more weeks). So just as with the grit, I took to distributing about a tablespoon worth around the parameter of their feeder each morning. Everybody gets some and nobody gets too much.
This process is working for now, but my dilemma is once spring hits, we will be gone on weekends a lot (occasionally longer) clear through summer and fall. I have plans to automate the food and water distribution so that we can be away for several days without worry. I don't want to bother my neighbors to do anything but simply collect eggs, so I'd really like to be ably to offer "free choice". How can I train my girls to use grit and oyster shell "free choice" without over consumption?
I have 8 pullets: 6 are GC; 1 BO; 1 EE. I don't normally need to offer grit since there is a lot of fine gravel and sand where they free range. However, they can't get to it readily when there is snow cover or the ground is frozen hard. So when the first snow began to fly here, I put a metal rabbit feeder in the run and filled it with grit (about 2 cups worth). I looked in about 30 minutes later and much to my surprise, it was all gone! I waited a couple of days and tried again, this time with about half as much grit. Same thing happened. I finally took to just sprinkling a tablespoon worth over their fodder mats and in their BOSS ration.
Once the Comets began to approach POL, I filled the rabbit pan with oyster shell (again, about 2 cups worth). Just as with the grit, they devoured it all within 30 minutes. I tried again for several days with smaller amounts (1/4 - 1/2 cup), but the only thing that happened is the three birds highest on the pecking order would eat it all leaving none for the others. I can't imagine that any chicken could possibly need that much oyster or grit in a day (especially the BO and EE whom I wouldn't expect to start laying for many more weeks). So just as with the grit, I took to distributing about a tablespoon worth around the parameter of their feeder each morning. Everybody gets some and nobody gets too much.
This process is working for now, but my dilemma is once spring hits, we will be gone on weekends a lot (occasionally longer) clear through summer and fall. I have plans to automate the food and water distribution so that we can be away for several days without worry. I don't want to bother my neighbors to do anything but simply collect eggs, so I'd really like to be ably to offer "free choice". How can I train my girls to use grit and oyster shell "free choice" without over consumption?