Chick grit and oyster??

[Summer98]

Is there a need at all for chick grit if they are only fed chick pellets and grass? I thought the grit is for digesting grains. Do you give grains to adults only?
Also, do oyster shells serve the purpose as grit or is both grit and oyster needed for adults?

 

[JodyJo]

Oyster shell is fed to hens who are laying...can be free choice in a dish on the side. Its for extra calcium for strong shells, has nothing to do with grit.

If your chickens free range, they will not need extra grit, they will get it off the ground in pebbles and stones they pick up.

If your chicks are fed grass, yes, they will need grit (at least that is my understanding)

If your adults are not free ranged, yes, grit will be needed.

 

[goldies99]

if they are out side they can pretty much find the grit they need....once winter comes and they are in a coop its a good idea to offer all chickens
some grit....but if they only eat chicken feed it isnt necessary

 

[Clay Mudd]

It depends a lot on your local soil and geology.

From Jeff Mattocks, nutritionist at Fertrell:

Jeff Mattocks' :

I often hear "They get all the grit they need from the pasture/dirt." Try this test: go dig up the surface soil from 4 square feet, 1 inch deep. Then screen this topsoil for the stone particles in the soil. Then grade the different size particle to achieve the desired size for your poultry's stage of growth. Let me know how much grit you find at the appropriate size. Unless your chickens are grazing a gravel pit (in which case there wouldn't be much grass growing), you're unlikely to have enough grit for your birds on the pasture unless you provide it.

Taken from APPPA Grit!, issue 58, July, Aug 2010.​

 

[ThinkingChickens]

I use course sand in my run but I still offer grit, and the girls do use it. I think it's good to have it out as a precaution. The girls seem to know what they need. The same goes for oyster shell. The girls get a varied diet but they still have a container of oyster shell and I see them use it. It's not expensive so might as well try it out.

 

[Tracydr]

I use grit because my soil is a fine particle clay. Also, give oyster shell and egg shells for calcium.