Feedstore grit too small??

[Tala]

I got a bag of granite grit from the feed store and it seemed a lot smaller (and whiter colored) than the last bag that I bought, but it's supposed to be for full sized chickens.
I thought that chicken grit was supposed to be.....I dunno sortof like small peas? or a tad smaller.
This stuff is pretty fine.

Anyway, what got me concerned was that I butchered a mean roo, and his gizzard was packed pretty full of this tiny grit (and feed) but there was like a tablespoon or more of tiny grit in there - white colored like the stuff I'm feeding. Is the grit too small? Is he eating too much of it to compensate for the size?? It just seemed like there was too much rocks in there, and they were awful small.

The chickens seem in good health, and two started laying right at 20 weeks so I guess it can't be all bad.

We're all sand, clay and smooth river rock here, so I offer them the granite mainly free choice, or throw a handful in their feeder about once a week.

Do you think they're ok?

 

[danielle82]

I thought it was supposed to be small? the grit that is

 

[silkiechicken]

Any rocks should be just fine to act as grit. Even sand would work its purpose. If they range around, they probably pick up some river rock and that would be sufficient. The grit here is perhaps the size of a split pea, but I don't buy it since we have about 12 tons of granite gravel surrounding the house and lining the drives.

 

[Fuffy]

Hi

So I have been a chook owner for all of a week. I did the research, sorted out the plot and got the house and feed before I got my birds.

And I start to wonder why the don't take much of the grits. Get back on the internet, and find that oyster shell is not the best for them...
Am trying to find out how often I should give the grit.

Soooo I have lobbed a couple of handfuls of my driveway (granite aggragate about the size of small peas) into the pen. I have 5 birds in a pen which is 6m by about 12m. I think this should do, so long as I make sure they don't run out...??? The plan is to roast up some of the eggshells and add this about once a week.

Would just like to know if I am on the right track...???

 

[Tala]

Get back on the internet, and find that oyster shell is not the best for them...
Am trying to find out how often I should give the grit.

No. Oyster shell or eggshell is NOT the same thing as grit. You only need to feed shells as extra calcium supplements for egglaying hens. Grit is rocks.



I was just surprised at the grit to feed ratio, which seemed nearly 50:50. I expected less rocks I guess. Seems like everyone's doing OK though so...​