Chickens and grit

[dandread]

It’s clear I need to provide chickens grit from store. Thanks for the info.

In regards to post on mealworm farm, how many tests do you think I would need to feed six chickens this treat?

 

[chickens really]

I never buy mealworms..Just more hype.

 

[dandread]

It costs around $10 to buy 500 mealworms. Once you buy them you never buy them again. That is a cheap investment.

Just found a simple way to raise them. Takes no time at all to raise and only 30 minutes to set up a farm’.
http://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2016/04/how-to-breed-mealworms-for-your.html?m=1

 

[rjohns39]

It’s clear I need to provide chickens grit from store. Thanks for the info.

In regards to post on mealworm farm, how many tests do you think I would need to feed six chickens this treat?

As far as grit, while it's easiest to buy from TSC, etc, you can often get it from a local quarry as well. Here's a nice article on grit and the pdf lists sizes.

Just for price comparison, TSC charged $14 for 25# and Co-op charged $16 for a 50# bag. They also sell 50# bags of oyster shell for like $7.00. Quarries are going to be cheaper than either. Some use a mix of granite, limestone and quartz, but I prefer granite.

 

[dandread]

So I have three chickens. I gave them a half coconut shell of the proper size grit. Next day all gone. Day after do something, all gone. Did again, all gone. I can see some was obviously spread around so I am sure they are not eating it all. No way they could do much.

Have not checked on three chickens that are at another location that I gave grit to yesterday.

Don’t know what to do.
I assume I just keep putting it out but it seems to me that is a bunch of grit for only three chickens. Maybe they are just wasting a bunch of it. Their run has a bunch of leaves and shavings so hard to see if they are just strewing it everywhere.

Where I live it is .94lb

 

[rjohns39]

I put a dog bowl out for many more birds and it lasts for days, but I do have very rocky soil and from processing gizzards I know they grab stuff bigger than I feed them. You might want to check into a local quarry... I have friends who buy all their grit that way. Granite, Limestone or Quartz all work, but keep in mind that limestone has a lot of calcium in it.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I put it in a separate container, not on the ground. .GC

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Grit is important for foraging birds and birds that get refrigerator culls. My birds prefer much larger grinding stones than I've ever seen in a farm store. For my location what they get from the ground is perfect.

I see a lot of importance being put on grit. I'd just like to give the skinny of it if your birds are on an easily digestible diet like feed only. Reality is they don't need grit. It's an added process for grinding down food. If they don't have adequate grinding stones all that means is they are not as efficient in processing feed so consume more to maintain the same nutrients. Grit is very important for foraging birds and needed to break down fiberous and large pieces but if on small and easily digestible food it really only comes down to feed waste as they will consume more.

In a typical year, didn't do it this year, I gather small gravel from the driveway and put in coffee can for winter. If the ground is all ice and snow for over a month will toss out a few handfuls. That's it. My soil has what they need and as long as it's not frozen they'll dig into it and grab the stone they want. We had such a mild winter last year I didn't give any to the birds. Today and tomorrow are hitting over 40 F so expect to see fresh digging in covered area in front of coop.

 

[peckpeckpeck]

Depends also on size & type of grit.

They eat much more of the smaller size. They like it better b/c it's easier for them to eat, but it grinds down faster.

Also noticed a difference when I gave them grit from different places. The one from my feed store is granite. I think the one from my gardening store was limestone. I bought it because I was in a hurry. But they seemed to go through it quicker, I think because it was a softer stone.

For context, i live in Oregon where I have a lot of clay soil & larger river rocks. Not so much "grit". I have 3 hens who forage anywhere from 1hr to all day everyday, depending on my work schedule.

If your girls are eating that much, I'd keep it out for them. Use a taller feeder like the pail @GC-Raptor shows to refuce waste. But even if they fling it around, they can scratch around the ground for it

 

[MIchickenlady]

I havnt used grit because I use construction grade sand in my coop and run...I see the girls eating it sometimes. Should I still give them a separate container of grit??