Feed, grit & oyster shells! How do you feed you chickens these?

[Gabtods]

We have chicks about to head out into the run/coop, the question I have, is how do I feed them their feed, grit and oyster shells? We’re using the pvc Y for their food, do I just make one for oyster shells, and one for grit too? Do I mix them? Do I sprinkle them around for them to forage for?? Any advice would be appreciated! (Also I know my chicks don’t need the oyster shells yet, but just trying to plan ahead ) thanks!

 

[casportpony]

You want to feed the oyster shell on the side, do not mix it with their food. Not sure about the grit.

 

[3KillerBs]

I wired a couple random plastic containers to the run in the covered portion. Nothing fancy, but held what needed to be held.

 

[black_cat]

I'm planning to set up a hanging dish contraption for the grit and the shell. basically just a dish hanging in the run, so they can get it when necessary.

 

[mowin]

Once they gained access to the run, I've never put out grit. Plenty of free grit in the dirt.
I do have a small container of OS hanging in the coop.

 

[DobieLover]

We have chicks about to head out into the run/coop, the question I have, is how do I feed them their feed, grit and oyster shells? We’re using the pvc Y for their food, do I just make one for oyster shells, and one for grit too? Do I mix them? Do I sprinkle them around for them to forage for?? Any advice would be appreciated! (Also I know my chicks don’t need the oyster shells yet, but just trying to plan ahead ) thanks!

OS and grit on the side. I use simple 7 lb. hanging feeders that I keep full of each. The OS goes out at 16 weeks.

 

[DobieLover]

Plenty of free grit in the dirt.

Unless it's the dead of winter and everything is frozen solid. A 50# bag of grit is $10 and has lasted my flock of on average 22 birds over 2 years. Cheap insurance.

 

[TooCheep]

Unless it's the dead of winter and everything is frozen solid. A 50# bag of grit is $10 and has lasted my flock of on average 22 birds over 2 years. Cheap insurance.

Yup. It is cheap. I just make it available even though my girls are usually free ranging several hours each day. Doesn't hurt anything and insures that they can digest whatever they find foraging. Grit isn't needed to digest pellets/crumbles which dissolve in water. But chickens don't have teeth, so grit is needed to help break down plants, bugs, etc.

I offer grit and calcium in small containers on the side. Do not mix these together or mix them in with the feed. They'll only munch on them when they feel the need.

Chick grit starts as soon as they start feeding them anything other than crumbles or hard-boiled egg. Calcium is offered only *after* they start laying. Too much calcium before they need it can actually cause physical problems and layer feed for non-layers is a big no-no.

 

[Peppercorngal]

I use hanging 10 lb feeders for the pellet food and a plant saucer for oyster shell. I don't hang the feeders as some of the chickens like to eat from the top! They don't need grit as we are living on crushed granite dirt! They get plenty from that.

 

[David61]

I have a 5 gallon feeder and water. They can guard it and Bully others. Secondary feeders and water are the same as my grit and shell. 20oz and 2 litter plastic bottles cut to make cups and screwed to the wall.