Chick Grit

[Chicken_Little_AGray]

I have three 6 week old chicks, and three 5 week old chicks. I have recently been putting them outside for about 8 hours each day, and they have access to dirt and small rocks. I was wondering if this can be used as grit, or would I have to buy grit for them. I haven’t been giving them grit, only their chick crumbles. After Halloween, I gave them some pumpkin seeds, is this okay? Should I go buy grit?

 

[The cheek coop]

This is very controversial and I know someone will come at me over this. However, we have had our girls for 7 months now and I have never given them grit or oyster shells for that matter. Our ground is very gritty and they have plenty of access to it. I am a firm believer that chickens have survived for millennia without man giving them oyster shells or crushed granite. And might I add they will go on till the world ends without human intervention. That being said I know that there are some medical issues that do require human intervention. This is my opinion and experience alone. Someone else’s experience may be different.

 

[rosemarythyme]

As long as the small rocks they have access to are of sufficient hardness (granite vs sandstone for example) and around this size range (at 6 weeks they're in between chick and grower size), it'll suffice without you supplementing.

 

[Frizz Chickooster]

This is very controversial and I know someone will come at me over this. However, we have had our girls for 7 months now and I have never given them grit or oyster shells for that matter. Our ground is very gritty and they have plenty of access to it. I am a firm believer that chickens have survived for millennia without man giving them oyster shells or crushed granite. And might I add they will go on till the world ends without human intervention. That being said I know that there are some medical issues that do require human intervention. This is my opinion and experience alone. Someone else’s experience may be different.

I haven‘t given any grit to mine either. They are all full grown and healthy.