Chickens Eating Grit Question

[capebird]

Do chickens intentionally eat grit.... do they search out "grit" to eat? Do they
eat it on purpose instinctively knowing they need it to process their food? Or do they
just happen to gobble it up thinking it's food. I usually mix it in with their food....
if I just put the grit in a bowl (by itself) would the chickens ingest it?
thanks

 

[tinychicky]

it is by instinct that they eat grit. many times i've seen a mother hen teaching her chicks to eat it, but whether a mother is around or not, they always figure it out eventually. so yes, eating rocks is intentional lol

 

[BoltonChicken]

They'll search the yard over till they find the right size grit and then they'll eat it.
If you put it in their food and they don't need it, they will eat around it and leave it.
They have super instincts. In fact, thats all they have!