do chickens need grit if so what grit do i use

[mesafox101]

my chickens are fed organic grains, chicken pellets and and apple or other fruit or veggie. i have silkie chickens one being pure bred with the other two being mixes. my 3 chickens are under 1 year old, being born april 16, 2017.

 

[3riverschick]

Hi ,
read the BYC thread " the science of feeding grit to poultry". it will explain the why's and how's of grit feeding..
I did a lot of research on it and cited the research in the bibliography there. you want to read the first four posts. that will help you out
I use Gran-i-Grit. it's a North Carolina company . the thread is in the Raising Chicks forum.
Best
Karen and the Light Sussex in Western Pennsylvania

 

[mesafox101]

Hi ,
read the BYC thread " the science of feeding grit to poultry". it will explain the why's and how's of grit feeding..
I did a lot of research on it and cited the research in the bibliography there. you want to read the first four posts. that will help you out
I use Gran-i-Grit. it's a North Carolina company . the thread is in the Raising Chicks forum.
Best
Karen and the Light Sussex in Western Pennsylvania

thank you so much for the information! none of my friends use grit and they have been owning chickens for years so i was unsure, i will get grit for my chickies soon

 

[Pork Pie]

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/891051/the-science-of-feeding-grit-to-poultry

 

[3riverschick]

Thank you Ken!
I haven't learned how to cut and paste on this cell phone yet.
Karen

 

[barred2rock]

They need grit for a healthy gizzard, regardless of what they're fed. I started mine at a week old. They especially need it if they're fed things like whole grains, fruits & veggies.

 

[Chickassan]

I get that dumor stuff from tractor supply but to be straight with you they prefer the pearlite out of my flower pots and the pea gravel out of the walkway. Ran out once and all I could get was kaytee grit for parakeets, they didn't notice.

 

[Purina]

my chickens are fed organic grains, chicken pellets and and apple or other fruit or veggie. i have silkie chickens one being pure bred with the other two being mixes. my 3 chickens are under 1 year old, being born april 16, 2017.

Great question! Grit is only necessary if your hens are not allowed to free-range and are fed any kind of hard-coated seed or grain. Birds that free-range will naturally eat tiny stones, and confined birds that are eating a commercial pellet or crumble do not need grit because the ingredients in the feed were all in the ground form prior to being made into a crumble or pellet. Once that crumble/pellet hits the moisture in the crop, it will soften into its former mash condition. However, confined birds being fed scratch grains or bird seed as a treat will benefit from eating some grit.

For your ease, you can just put some in a bowl or sprinkle it on the ground in their run and they will pick it up -- you needn't go to the extra effort to mix it into their feed. Grit is made from granite, so it will last a long time in their gizzard. You can feed it as seldom as once a month or every day if you wish; they will eat as needed.