Chick grit

[Carenm]

I went to the feed stores around me and all they had was chicken grit that said for 8 weeks and up. Where do you find chick grit? My chicks are almost 3 weeks and I'd love to give them treats every so often and they will be going outside for test trips in a few days where they will be eating grass etc.

 

[enola]

They will find grit on their own if they are free ranging.

 

[twentynine]

If they are on the ground they may pick up homegrown "grit."

I have never given my chicks grit. Mine stay in the brooder for 8 to 12 weeks, then into the tractor until 16 to 18 weeks, then into the run they go.

 

[easttxchick]

Tractor Supply carries chick grit. I guess I am in the minority-once mine are spending time outside and eating green stuff, I make sure to give them some grit just in case.

 

[Carenm]

Quote:
Our TSC doesn't. Either that or I couldn't find it and the person I asked didn't know either.

 

[easttxchick]

Hmm...well, I'm sure you could find it on the internet. In our TSC, it is on a shelf right above the Dumor feed(alongside the oyster shell and poultry conditioner-it's called Manna-Pro, I think).

 

[freemotion]

You can go scoop up some sand and wash it in a wire screen colander. Sharpish sand is better than very round sand. They will pick up the sizes they need. I washed mine because I got it by the road, but if you have a clean location and they will be going outside anyways, you could skip the washing.

TSC sells oyster shell as grit. At least my local ones do. I have to buy it elsewhere.

 

[bantybev]

Our TSC used to sell the Mana-Pro oyster shell and Nutri-Source chick grit. The last time I went to get the chick grit I was told they changed to all Mana-Pro products and will no longer carry the "Nutri-Source" brand of chick grit I had always bought. I don't know if this will affect all TSC stores or just ours. All they carry is the adult poultry grit now, which is way too coarse for baby chicks. I have heard that builders sand from Home Depot is the next best thing (on another thread on this forum).

Oyster shell is a calcium supplement for laying hens and should not be fed to chicks. It is totally different than grit. Grit is usually a type of ground up granite.