Chickens hardly touch their grit - but love eating the sand in their coop.

[Triangle Nostril]

I keep sand only in my coop under their roosting bars so that I can sift through their dropping daily. They used to eat chick grit when they were younger, but ever since transitioning to adult grit months ago they hardly touch it. So far they haven't had any digestive issues, and I see them pecking at the sand in their coop all the time when I open it up for a cleaning; which is always a bit annoying for me cause I don't want them eating poop pebbles but I guess chickens will be chickens.

Should I try a different brand of grit? Try smashing them into smaller pieces? Or maybe just let it be, cause it doesn't seem like they're having issues with the current setup. I keep their grit in a free choice dog bowl and it pretty much gets a layer of dust on it from being undisturbed. Conversely, they dig through the free choice oyster shells I have in a bowl adjacent to it.

I don't free range them because of predators, but I let them have supervised time in my garden every other day or so. I doubt they're getting enough grit from the ground there, but maybe? Their run is pretty much stripped bare and covered in wood shavings so I don't think there's much grit to get from the dirt there.

 

[FrostRanger]

I wouldn't worry about it, they might be getting some of their grit from their sand, as long as they have access to grit if they so choose to use it and nobody is having problems, all is well. Besides, chickens don't actually go through a lot of grit. Even a small container can last a long time so they probably are taking some when you're not looking, just not much

 

[Al Gerhart]

They are fine, born with knowledge about things like this. Relax, if you fine some fine gravel and coarse sand, grab a bucket of it and dump it in the coop.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Or maybe just let it be, cause it doesn't seem like they're having issues with the current setup.