chick grit help?

[Beekissed]

I agree! I'm feeding whole grains to some CX, so this is the first time I have intentionally got grit for youngsters. I usually free range where there is plenty of good grit material but this place doesn't have enough.

I went down in the holler, scooped some sand and small gravel, mixed it with some ashes out of the stove and placed it in a basin where they could bathe and partake. They went crazy on it at first (pic below) but then it tapered off and I see them bathing in it, pecking at it now and again per usual for chickens.

 

[Jakoda]

I see in this thread it's said not to feed grit when chicks are on chick starter..is that because their is grit in the chick starter???

And dusting bath, I see most say to use sand, as in playground type sand?? mix a little dirt in it as well?

Thanks, newbie here
Diane

 

[WI FarmChick]

I agree! I'm feeding whole grains to some CX, so this is the first time I have intentionally got grit for youngsters. I usually free range where there is plenty of good grit material but this place doesn't have enough.

I went down in the holler, scooped some sand and small gravel, mixed it with some ashes out of the stove and placed it in a basin where they could bathe and partake. They went crazy on it at first (pic below) but then it tapered off and I see them bathing in it, pecking at it now and again per usual for chickens.

That Is Just TOO Cute!

Love It!

 

[Beekissed]

Like a small army, these birds. You ought to see them move out of the coop each morning in a wave of predatory raptors....no worm or insect of any kind is safe! I've never seen any chicken forage as much as this group! I have to make them go in the coop after dark because they will continue to forage for bugs until I can barely see outside. Many of them will ignore the daily feeding and keep foraging instead of coming into the coop for the easy food. And folks say these CX are lazy....

 

[WI FarmChick]

I have to say it again! Your Predatory Raptors Are just Hilarius! With big Daddy[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] watching so carefully! [/FONT]

when (I was going to say if) I get more CX's I am hoping they will be as aggressive at seeking food as your are!

 

[Beekissed]

When these guys are hungry, my legs and feet are fair game....they actually will peck at my legs and jump up to peck at my hands. When they were just day olds and a little older, they would grab my fingers in their beaks and I could lift them out of the brooder as they hung on. These things were born hungry and just got hungrier!

And they are comical to watch as they will jump straight up in the air at flying insects like little basketball players going for the tip off. If I howl like a wolf, they all RUN for the coop lickety-split! Hours of entertainment watching this galloping hoard, I tell ya.

 

[WI FarmChick]

I am just a rolling around laughing!!!!!...............LOL

When they get older you might not want to enter their pen! You might disappear totally.....

 

[stephensc7146]

Well, today I decided to try them out on some chick grit. I took them outside to play and they pecked at the grass, and dandelions, so I figured grit couldn't hurt. Here's how it went!

After they figured out it was there, they all went nuts over it!:


After they slowed down a bit:


Afterwards, I could feel the grit in their gizzards! It was pretty odd! But it made me feel a little better about them eating grass..

 

[Beekissed]

It always amazes me that these birds know, without being taught, that grit is essential to their diet! There is no taste factor there but they gobble it as if it were food until they have what they need to help them digest their foods....it's amazing, that instinct for survival and health.