Chicks eating bedding

[Emmeran]

Thanks!
The bird grit or the poultry one? Do you think the chicks will be alright til I go when it opens tomorrow?
Thanks,
Beth

The chicks will be fine, just keep plastic out of their pen. Grit is simply dirt, throw a handful of sandy loam in and let them peck at it; paying for grit is silly.

Remember chickens like anything they can eat and they even love roadkill.

 

[Nicsbackyardchicks]

Thanks!
The bird grit or the poultry one? Do you think the chicks will be alright til I go when it opens tomorrow?
Thanks,
Beth

How long have they been eating it for? Could you perhaps put a towel in there tonight?
I bought the bird grit from there & had no problems. As I can remember it has no added calcium. However, in the poultry section of pets at home, they too do a chicken grit, although larger it can be broken down with a pestal & mortar.

 

[Nicsbackyardchicks]

This is the pets at home grit.

the bird grit from pets at home has added calcium so not appropriate for the chicks.

 

[tsperry88]

Is that paper towels? My 3 batches all ate paper towls, and my big chickens love anything paper or foam. I always take it away when I catch them, but their culinary choices are questionable.

 

[BethBerry]

How long have they been eating it for? Could you perhaps put a towel in there tonight?
I bought the bird grit from there & had no problems. As I can remember it has no added calcium. However, in the poultry section of pets at home, they too do a chicken grit, although larger it can be broken down with a pestal & mortar.

Probably about an hour. I’ve noticed some ripped pieces on the floor so I don’t think they’ve eaten all of it. I’ll go to wilkos first thing and buy both the chick and the bird grit. I’ve put a shelf liner over the kitchen roll so hopefully it shouldn’t be a problem tonight. I actually have pine bedding being delivered tomorrow though. As long as they’re okay tonight I’ll sort everything! They just make me worry!

 

[BethBerry]

Is that paper towels? My 3 batches all ate paper towls, and my big chickens love anything paper or foam. I always take it away when I catch them, but their culinary choices are questionable.

Yeah, just paper towels (that got a bit wet under their water). I give them lots of delicious starter feed and instead they eat the paper towels!

 

[Nicsbackyardchicks]

Probably about an hour. I’ve noticed some ripped pieces on the floor so I don’t think they’ve eaten all of it. I’ll go to wilkos first thing and buy both the chick and the bird grit. I’ve put a shelf liner over the kitchen roll so hopefully it shouldn’t be a problem tonight. I actually have pine bedding being delivered tomorrow though. As long as they’re okay tonight I’ll sort everything! They just make me worry!

I'm not sure they sell chick grit, I just saw the bird grit. Just double check for added calcium, there's no mention online about it. I checked for you

Pets at home deffo sell poultry grit which can be broken down for the chicks.
I'm sure they will be fine hun x

 

[tsperry88]

Yeah, just paper towels (that got a bit wet under their water). I give them lots of delicious starter feed and instead they eat the paper towels!

They will eat the pine shavings too Crazy little things.


I use this grit. Just crushed granite, the texture of course sand.


https://www.amazon.com/Scratch-Peck...s=chick+grit&qid=1598906142&sr=8-4&th=1&psc=1

 

[Emmeran]

Just remember that chickens are one of the oldest of domesticated animals, they can and will eat almost anything and thrive off it. However thin modern plastics are a danger so keep them away.

If your chickens are not cage kept and allowed out in the yard or free range you will not need any supplements to a 50/50 mix of "All Flock" and "Scratch". However if your flock are an industrial laying breed (6 eggs per week) than you will have to supplement calcium as those birds are genetically engineered to over-produce and it wears out their bodies.

Again "Grit" is just sand and gravel, they use it like we use molars but it's in their craw and it grinds food to start digestion.

Most importantly - chickens are like toddlers... ...anything and everything they can find eventually ends up in their mouths.

 

[tsperry88]

Just remember that chickens are one of the oldest of domesticated animals, they can and will eat almost anything and thrive off it. However thin modern plastics are a danger so keep them away.

If your chickens are not cage kept and allowed out in the yard or free range you will not need any supplements to a 50/50 mix of "All Flock" and "Scratch". However if your flock are an industrial laying breed (6 eggs per week) than you will have to supplement calcium as those birds are genetically engineered to over-produce and it wears out their bodies.

Again "Grit" is just sand and gravel, they use it like we use molars but it's in their craw and it grinds food to start digestion.

Most importantly - chickens are like toddlers... ...anything and everything they can find eventually ends up in their mouths.

Are you suggesting half their diet be scratch? I'm new at this, but that is counter to everything I have read. Good feed is formulated as a sole ration, minus the calcium if using an all flock feed. Scratch is a treat.