Chicks and grit

[KnitswithChickens]

I got my chicks yesterday from the feed store, they are 3 days old. When should I introduce grit? I was given an unopened box of parakeet grit, is this too large for tiny chicks? Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks

 

[Featherwisp]

Parakeet grit is ideal for chicks (from what I have heard on this forum!

)
I am also wondering when to introduce grit...

 

[KnitswithChickens]

Featherwisp, I went to the chat room earlier to pose the same question and was told that chick starter should already have some grit in it and that the babies wouldn't need the grit until they were off the chick starter (if that's all they are eating).

Watching our babies is waaayy better than TV!!

 

[Featherwisp]

Oh ok! I didnt know that. Thanks for informing me!

Man. They must be a riot!
I cant WAIT until we get our chicks!

 

[cmom]

Whenever I give my chicks anything other than their Starter crumbles I put out a dish of free choice chick grit

 

[cmom]

A chicken's food goes, as is, into the crop, where it is slowly funneled into a very small " stomach" for some digestive additives--then to the Gizzard, where it is 'chewed', that is, ground into material that can be digested as it moves into the intestines and so on. The Gizzard is best able to break down whole grains and other chunky bits that they eat when full of grit. Longest lasting grit is Granite, that lasts well. All other rock and stone is so much softer, that it wears down fast and that is why granite grit is best choice, works really well for best utilization of feeds. My baby chicks are given free choice and they choose it with pleasure, Chick grit is fine Granite, as soon as they are given anything besides Starter Crumbles. Their tiny gizzards are at optimum function at an early age. I first give my chicks some treats such as rolled oats, lettuce, vegie scraps at 2/3 weeks with a dish of free choice Chick grit.