I let my chicks (2wks old tomorrow) run around in the room that the brooder is in sometimes. They love it, but should I prevent them from eating random bits of dirt, and other tiny stuff? they have access to a bin of dirt, which is their grit. (is this OK grit?) They LOVE to run around and peck stuff, I wouldn't want to have a chick get sick.
Nope. That's how they pick up grit, by eating it. chicks are like toddlers, everything goes into the mouth.
That is what chickens do; they dig in the dirt and eat bugs, plants and rocks out of it and injest a bunch of dirt along the way. It is not a problem as long as it has no chemicals or poisens in it and is not something that will cause them to get impacted, whic is only large things that will not digest well like hay or excessive wood chips. If you are concerned, just make sure their butts are clean and you are in the clear.
We have over 50 new chicks and they all hang their heads out through the 1" by 1" holes in the cage material! When they do this they look like cows at the feed trough and they eat tons of dirt!! It is hysterical! I was a little concerned at first too.
