Dancing in the Grit

[Qi Chicken]

So I couldn't find chick grit so I got play sand.

There we lots of (very) small pebbles in there so I sifted it (after baking it in the oven to dry it!) and put some on their food, like a sprinkling, and some in a small glass bowl (probably about 3 tablespoons worth for 16 chicks).

They ignored the bowl. It actually looked like they sniffed it and backed away from it. Then about an hour later I go in there and the bowl is almost gone and the chicks seem to be fighting to step into it. Shaking themselves all around. Are they needing a sand bath? They are 10 days old. They are preening quite a bit.

I did see them eating it though. they were eating it like food. Will they know when to stop? I want to give them treats on Sunday. Should I put out grit in a separate bowl every day?

WIll 2 days of grit be enough that they could have some other treats? They have been eating hardboiled egg and it's like pirahnas (sp?) they are CRAZY for the egg. It's actually kind of freaky.

I have been giving them (16 chicks) one hardboiled egg every other day. They have had 1 and a half now. This isn't too much is it?

Thanks for the help all. This chicken thing is wearing me out!

 

[Qi Chicken]

I'm bumping myself! It's the next day and I am wondering if I should give them more grit in a bowl to eat? Or should I just sprinkle more on their food. Just to recap 16 chicks probably ate 2-3 tablespoons of sand yesterday. Thanks!