Chicks + grit = treats?

[dtimms]

I know this has been asked ad nauseam, but I just have to ask again... If I'm going to give yogurt and shredded cheese as a treat, do my chicks need grit? Or is grit only needed for oats, greens, etc? Why isn't grit needed for dairy?

What is the best chick grit? I'm feeding Poulin starter for now, and it doesn't look to be in there. I saw someone mention parrot grit from a pet store, is that appropriate for a one-week old?

Thanks.... Newbie driving everyone nuts.

 

[Judy]

That's OK, with 35,000 members, there's always someone around who feels like answering!

No you don't need grit for yogurt or cheese. Grit to a chicken is the same as teeth for us. They need it to grind up grains, leafy stuff, etc. (They do this in their gizzard.) They don't have to grind cheese and yogurt.

There is some difference of opinion on here about grit, so get ready for a long answer.

What you have to watch for with things like parrot grit is other additives. Calcium, for example, should not be offered to young chicks as their kidneys do not handle it well. Read the label.

The old fashioned view is that chicks get all the grit they need from the soil -- once they are out there pecking and scratching in soil. Soil in my area has a lot of sand and limestone, and people around here have raised chickens for generations without added grit; the people in my feed store, in business for many years, never heard of it. Which of course does not necessarily mean that is OK not to provide it. People around here consider cracked corn to be chicken feed, too, and that certainly is not an adequate diet for them (but these chickens are usually true free range.) So I go to TSC and buy grit just to be safe. TSC carries a baby chick grit and an adult grit (both are ground granite.) And when I processed some roosters, their gizzards had a bunch of the grit in there. So I guess they thought they needed it. Some on here say sand will work for grit and others say it is too fine. I have yet to figure out if there is a hard and fast reality out there.

I understand baby chick feed (starter) has grit in it. Makes sense, since it is mostly grains. But I often read advice to offer grit if you offer greens, oats, etc. on here. Not sure why, if they are getting it in the chick feed.

You think you're driving us nuts? Ha. Wait til you try to sort something like this out for yourself.

And good luck!

 

[dtimms]

Thank you so much for your reply! I think for now we'll just stick with cheese and yogurt to be on the safe side... If I tell my husband he has to drive back to TSC, I think he'll completely lose it! Next time we're out and about we'll pick up some chick grit and then try some greens.

Appreciate your help!!!!