confusion about grit

[socks]

Hi, my birds are out in the coop and have a generous run that is not yet scratched down to dirt. I was giving some chick grit before when they were in the brooder and I gave them some treats but I haven't given it to them lately, maybe because of a misunderstanding.

They are about 9 1/2 weeks old now but have been in a chicken tractor during the day for the last 4 or 5 weeks. At some point I read that they didn't need grit if they were free ranging. They're not exactly free ranging right now (need to make sure they are quite certain where there home is) just the run. So should I be giving them a separate bowl of grit to eat (or add it to their food) if they want or not at all? Can someone help clear the confusion for me???

thanks

 

[scbatz33]

You'll get a variety of opinions here.....

I mix grit in the food - regardless of free ranging or not. It's not expensive and it can't hurt. If they need it, they'll eat it.

 

[Big C]

We stop feeding grit when we turn them loose in a run and convert their feed from starter to grower.

This all depends on your coop setup and when you let them in a run.

 

[socks]

You'll get a variety of opinions here.....

I mix grit in the food - regardless of free ranging or not. It's not expensive and it can't hurt. If they need it, they'll eat it.

oh my....then maybe I should learn the signs of trouble indicating they need it.

Um...scbatz33 If you mix it into the food how can they avoid it if they don't need it????
Do they actually pick and choose (mine seem to just gobble without looking)
I had been mixing it in before because I'd read that they might just fill up on it being chicks and all but now that they are teenagers.....?​

 

[underground chickenman]

Depends on the amount of grit in your range. I live in Florida and my hens would be hard pressed to find more than sand in my yard. Generally speaking, if you free range, they will find grit to meet their needs. If you have any doubts, as I would in my sandy soil, you can provide it to them just in case. If they do not free range and eat only commercial layer rations, they don't need grit. If you feed them greens or other foods, you will need to provide grit.

Some like to provide grit even though their chickens only eat commercial feed just in case they ingest some litter or some critters that find their way into the coop. Not a bad idea. Better safe than sorry.

Don't ever wait for signs of any kind of trouble. The key is to prevent trouble. As for grit, if you think they might need it, give it to them. You will be very sad to lose some chickens over a few small rocks.

UGCM

 

[Akane]

It is best to provide it in case. Especially if they are confined instead of free range where they can hunt down various soils.

I do not like the idea of mixing anything in their feed. They should have a container of just poultry feed at all times with nothing in it. If you want to feed other stuff put out another container of that or mix things together seperate from their feed. Putting it in their feed means they could get too much, too little, or just knock all the feed on the ground trying to seperate it from whatever you mixed in. They know what they need and will eat it if necessary.

 

[muell112]

I mix grit I got at the store with their food. They leave it at the bottom of the feeder if they don't want it. You also want to think about the type of "grit" available in the run and if it's a suitable size/hardness for getting the job done. I'll post more later, gotta go.

 

[socks]

o.k. some good information thanks, but uh....it's sounding a little more complicated than I expected.

Not sure how to determine the size of the grit in the run....

I have given them a sandbox out there some time ago for dust bathing but they have also always enjoyed picking through it and seemingly eating something???

I got worried before I got the rest of the posts so I put some chick grit in their food as I haven't given them any in at least a week (maybe 2) and now I see that coming into question but even if I decide this is a bad practice this one time is probably better than nothing.
(I'd heard chicks might just chow down on the grit, fill up on it and so lack nutrition so sprinkling a bit in their food was better.....and then, when do they stop being chicks ????)

 

[muell112]

I got a five pound bag of chicken grit at the feed store - it consists of granite pieces about 1/8-1/4" in diameter that are somewhat flat. I put sand in their run before that and they ate a LOT, I was really surprised and somewhat concerned. The size and hardness of the granite pieces is supposed to be most effective as grit, according to the label on the bag. So, based on that you might be able to see if you have the right kind of stuff naturally occurring in your run.

 

[scbatz33]

If you mix the grit to food in the ration on the bag, the chicks will neither compromise their nutrition nor leave all the grit behind. I can not remember what the ration is off the top of my head, but it's on the bag.

I mix my feed - different stages for different ages. I have birds on 4 different mixes right now. Any bird out of my brooder gets grit mixed in their feed and my layers also get oyster shell mixed in theirs.

Like I said originally, you will get more opinions than Carter has pills on this topic. You have to find what works best for you. I have healthy active birds aged from 6 weeks to 2 years. I get eggs every day. I have not had anyone get sick due to feeding regiment (touch wood) so I do what has worked for me.

Oh, and to answer your question specifically - the chickens are smarter than we are. They KNOW what they need and they eat it. I provide a complete ration, my birds out of the brooder also free range and I will occasionally throw them veg. scraps. They eat what they need. The ignore the rest.

Again, I mix the grit per the feed/grit ratio on the bag.