Chickens and grit

[dandread]

I actually have red sex links and black sex links.

 

[Splendid Medley]

I have rocky soil and the girls free range when I can be outside with them (we have an very high population of predator birds). For a year they had a container with grit and one with oyster shell. Never touched it. Now I mix my own scratch so I add grit and oyster to it. They get enough from the soil in the run and what is being put down. If your chickens seem to be in good health, have regular digestion, and normal behavior, I wouldn't worry.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

I don't bother boiling egg shells for calcium.

I figure if something that shoots out an arsehole and gets immediately brought into the kitchen for human consumption, only lightly rinsed before cracking it open, it's good enough with just that light rinse for chickens that have no problem eating live lizards and rotting compost.

 

[Farm Gurl]

I rinse mine out a little, let them dry and crush them in my hand. Works for me and I don't have any egg eaters.

I just let them dry and crush them. No problems yet!

 

[Chullicken]

Like most mentioned, It really can't hurt to have it available. If they don't use it you're only out a few $$ and don't have to worry yourself over it. It really beats the alternative having to deal with crop issues. I don't offer grit myself by itself, rather I used sand in my run as a base. About six inches worth that contains small consumable matter for this purpose. Even in winter time I rough a patch up for them so they know its available. I just include it passively in my routine run maintenance program to till it up. I do have a bag of both oyster shell and granite I do keep on hand and its offered up about once a month just to be sure. My Landrace rooster likes to climb on top of any kind of container and just destroy said things thinking they are perches. That would be the biggest reason. My flock is also confined typically with all their treat and scrap offerings cut down to under two inches for sensibility.

 

[Chullicken]

I don't bother boiling egg shells for calcium.

I figure if something that shoots out an arsehole and gets immediately brought into the kitchen for human consumption, only lightly rinsed before cracking it open, it's good enough with just that light rinse for chickens that have no problem eating live lizards and rotting compost.

And whole mice..its disturbing.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

And whole mice..its disturbing.

I know! One of my darling hens caught a live action mouse and ate part of her before I could wrestle the thing from her beak. I definitely don't want them eating rodents. Gah!!

 

[Mraya]

I know! One of my darling hens caught a live action mouse and ate part of her before I could wrestle the thing from her beak. I definitely don't want them eating rodents. Gah!!

Ate part of it!!!!! Mine swallowed the whole thing.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

Ate part of it!!!!! Mine swallowed the whole thing.

Gross!! Rodent flavored eggs!!!!!!!!

 

[Lostchicken]

That's a grower size but should be fine. Normally chicken grit is 5/16" Since you have Bantams, I'm still thinking you're fine.

I do have sandy loam soil so they can get sand for grit it need be. They have tilled up enough for me to have a garden and I don't need my tiller right now.