Does Scratch & Peck mash require feeding grit?

[TeePants]

Our baby silked EEs arrived today and I realized as I was making mash that it’s got a lot of grain in it, unlike the crumble. I guess I didn’t think about that! I don’t have any grit on hand and they’re in a brooder indoors for now as I’m finishing up the coop.

I am assuming I need to hold off on offering the starter mash until I offer them chick grit. I am hesitant to offer it to them now as they’ve still got their egg teeth, and are only vaguely cognizant between the differences of food versus the floor, haha. I worry they’d gorge on it and get themselves sick.

 

[RoyalChick]

Our baby silked EEs arrived today and I realized as I was making mash that it’s got a lot of grain in it, unlike the crumble. I guess I didn’t think about that! I don’t have any grit on hand and they’re in a brooder indoors for now as I’m finishing up the coop.

I am assuming I need to hold off on offering the starter mash until I offer them chick grit. I am hesitant to offer it to them now as they’ve still got their egg teeth, and are only vaguely cognizant between the differences of food versus the floor, haha. I worry they’d gorge on it and get themselves sick.

View attachment 4210486

I always give chicks chick sized grit from day one. Even tiny ones indoors might eat a spider or other bug.
Congrats on your little ones!

 

[TeePants]

I always give chicks chick sized grit from day one. Even tiny ones indoors might eat a spider or other bug.
Congrats on your little ones!

Oh, ok! I ordered some, should be here tomorrow morning. Hopefully they’ll be fine until then!

 

[RoyalChick]

Oh, ok! I ordered some, should be here tomorrow morning. Hopefully they’ll be fine until then!

I am sure they will do great. Mine always dust bathe in the bow if grit I give them which is super cute, but I guess they must also eat a few pieces.

 

[Fluffy_Butt_Hutt]

Our baby silked EEs arrived today and I realized as I was making mash that it’s got a lot of grain in it, unlike the crumble. I guess I didn’t think about that! I don’t have any grit on hand and they’re in a brooder indoors for now as I’m finishing up the coop.

I am assuming I need to hold off on offering the starter mash until I offer them chick grit. I am hesitant to offer it to them now as they’ve still got their egg teeth, and are only vaguely cognizant between the differences of food versus the floor, haha. I worry they’d gorge on it and get themselves sick.

View attachment 4210486

tiny dustbath in the corner with small enough rocks from outside helps a lot! I end up sifting normal dirt with a small plastic pot. Gets just the right sized pebbles out for grit and they get a dustbath! spray a bit with water so it's more "dirt" rather than "dust" but not until looking wet or muddy. Either way, with such small chicks it's still best to crush it a bit more or ferment a bit to soften it up.

 

[rosemarythyme]

To prevent gorging I just sprinkle a tiny pinch of grit onto their food once every few days.

 

[thecatumbrella]

To prevent gorging I just sprinkle a tiny pinch of grit onto their food once every few days.

This is what I do. I keep trying to give them a side dish, but it gets filled with shavings in about 30 seconds, so no grit was being had. Tiny sprinkle in each food port every 3 days.

And yes, definitely give grit with S&P mash, or switch to crumble.

 

[TeePants]

This is what I do. I keep trying to give them a side dish, but it gets filled with shavings in about 30 seconds, so no grit was being had. Tiny sprinkle in each food port every 3 days.

And yes, definitely give grit with S&P mash, or switch to crumble.

They mainly get crumble but today I offered them a small, jam jar lid with mash and some chick grit sprinkled around it.

Two of the poor little gals had a bit of pasty butt this morning, and were none too pleased with their human bidet (me, and baby wipes). They seem to be ok otherwise, and frankly I’m surprised they don’t get more poo stuck down there given how fluffy they are!

At the moment I have them on washable puppy pads & I put paper towels on top so I can swap the paper towel mid day and wash the pads in the evening. When they outgrow this brooder (I used it for quail so it’s definitely not going to last them more than a week or so) I have a puppy playpen with a waterproof bottom attachment that I used when I fostered guinea pigs. I figure I’ll just do what I did then and put towels under a felt blanket and wash and swap each evening.

It’s easier for me to keep clean than wood shavings. The coop will definitely have a sand/shaving mix, although I’m also looking into hemp if I can find it at a reasonable price!