chick grit

[Devorah]

Yeah. And a separate bowl of grit and some grit scattered in the real dirt.
This works great though so I will use this method again.
A 5lb bag of grit has lasted me two chick batches (I only get a few chicks at a time) and even using this method I have plenty left in the bag for another 2-3 batches of babies.

Thanks for sharing your methods. They make sense! I bet your chicks are chirping happily this morning!

 

[RoyalChick]

Thanks for sharing your methods. They make sense! I bet your chicks are chirping happily this morning!

They are. They learned that if they scatter food everywhere they don’t have to find the feed bowl in the dark if they need a midnight snack.
Clever chickies!
I should add to my method that exposing them to local dirt is a good idea to build immunity. So I am going to dig some up and add it to my grit bowl today.
I still have mine in quarantine until the Marek’s shot has had time to take so I will get dirt from somewhere not close to my existing flock just in case.

 

[Kidwantschickens]

I don't remember ever giving my chicks or chickens grit. They were free range after about 6 weeks though and always had days outside in the dirt/grass. Can I just give them some gravel type dirt? (I mean I'm in the rocky mountains, pretty much all we have for dirt is broken rocks, lol)

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thanks! But in general the grit is in a separate bowl?

Yes for birds over 6-8ish weeks or so, my grit is in a separate container. The reasons I don't do that for chicks is 1) they use a different size than the adults, so I don't want to mix tiny grit with big grit, where it can get lost (if the chicks can even reach the adult's container) and 2) very rarely, chicks become obsessed with grit and can overeat it, so by sprinkling a small amount on their feed, it guarantees they can't eat too much of it.

I don't remember ever giving my chicks or chickens grit. They were free range after about 6 weeks though and always had days outside in the dirt/grass. Can I just give them some gravel type dirt? (I mean I'm in the rocky mountains, pretty much all we have for dirt is broken rocks, lol)

That works as long as you have a variety of gravel/rock sizes, including small bits appropriate for chicks.

 

[Devorah]

Yes for birds over 6-8ish weeks or so, my grit is in a separate container. The reasons I don't do that for chicks is 1) they use a different size than the adults, so I don't want to mix tiny grit with big grit, where it can get lost (if the chicks can even reach the adult's container) and 2) very rarely, chicks become obsessed with grit and can overeat it, so by sprinkling a small amount on their feed, it guarantees they can't eat too much of it.

That works as long as you have a variety of gravel/rock sizes, including small bits appropriate for chicks.

Thank you!!

 

[Boppo]

Can you just offer them clean sandbox type sand or do you need to buy parakeet type grit for chicks?

 

[Boppo]

I started wondering about an unused bag of pool filter sand I have. I googled that as possible chicken grit and found another discussion on BYC about sands and that had a handy link to a discussion on Hunker about sands. It was very helpful, and warned me that I cannot use pool filter sand (even unused) for grit because it is dusty, and the dust is a cancer risk:
Another problem is the composition of the sand itself. Rather than containing a whole host of minerals, as beach and play sands do, pool sand primarily consists of crushed silica quartz. The dust from this type of sand is a Class 1A carcinogen that can cause a fatal lung condition called silicosis. This is obviously not something in which you want your children to play. It's isn't safe for pets either and is not the best choice of fillers for cat litter boxes.

It Isn't Concrete Sand, Either: It isn't a good idea to incorporate used pool filter sand into a concrete or mortar mix because the material from which it's made weakens the concrete mix. Concrete sand is composed mostly from crushed limestone and granite, which are harder materials than silica quartz.

Use Pool Sand for Landscaping ​

The granules in pool sand are less than a millimeter in diameter, and may be much smaller. This fine mixture is great as an underlayment for paving stones as well as filler between the stones. You can also use it to fill holes in the lawn or garden or to spread on the surface of existing dirt pathways. None of these applications expose you to the possibility of inhaling silica dust or pool contaminants. (from https://www.hunker.com/13418045/how-to-dispose-of-pool-filtration-sand )

 

[Boppo]

I do like the idea of giving them a box of dirt. I had originally thought it was a brilliant idea to include diotomaceous earth with the regular dirt and maybe sand. But reading lots of entries here on BYC, I am now convinced that DE is a terrible idea, hurting the lungs of chickens and chicken keepers alike. So, Keep that bag in case of ant infestation, maybe? But It sounds like the chickens will like a sponsored dust bath better if it includes some wood ash mixed in with the dirt. I think I can manage that!

 

[Boppo]

Sounds like the worst parenting ever. What did you give your little babies? I gave them a box of dirt and a little cup of rocks. They were thrilled. Then I gave them some worms and bugs and they went crazy with joy.

 

[Devorah]

Sounds like the worst parenting ever. What did you give your little babies? I gave them a box of dirt and a little cup of rocks. They were thrilled. Then I gave them some worms and bugs and they went crazy with joy.

You have your chicks?!