Free Choice Grit?

[FirewifeJess]

Thus far for my 5 week olds I have been mixing grit into their chick starter and all has gone well, but I'd much rather provide free choice grit and stop worrying about salting their darn food with sand, LOL. Today I bought a small open topped bird feeder (like one for the inside a bird cage) and filled it with grit. Simple question: is this OK? Do they really know exactly how much grit to eat? They won't mistake it for food and chow down and die from malnutrition? LOL, I know I'm lame but I worry about my babies.

 

[Izzymoon]

yes, it is fine, I have a small pan I use for the grit. They seem to like it, and love to play in it lol

 

[Vickilynn45]

I just put mine in a small bowl by their food and they just take what they need and leave the rest. Half the time it gets tipped over in their bedding lol, but I read a lot of people just offer it separate.

 

[gracejr]

I offer mine separate as well, so far no issues.

 

[FirewifeJess]

OK well I'm glad I bought the bird feeder for it then, I don't want it wasted from them tipping and playing in it!

 

[ange92040]

we have a divided cat/dog dish with oyster on one side and grit on the other and they take what they want when they need it and so far so good.

 

[BantamBabesFarm]

I put a small round pan in the cage with grit. Thinking my chicks would enjoy that, maybe even dust bath in it. But they ate SO much of the grit! So I took it out...

How much is too much when your chicks are pigglets in chicks clothing!?

 

[Rooster76]

we have a divided cat/dog dish with oyster on one side and grit on the other and they take what they want when they need it and so far so good.

Don't give them oyster shell as chicks! Oyster shell is used for laying hens to get more calcium if they need it. Baby chicks can overdose from too much calcium. This is the main reason that you don't want them to eat layer feed that has calcium added (if you were going to mix old and young you would use "Flock Raiser" with no calcium added). I wouldn't offer oyster shell until the are at least 5 months.

On the 2 batches that I have raised I have offered them sand at 3 days on the side. My first batch went crazy eating it when I first offered it. It wasn't a problem with them eating too much even with it in there all the time. I use Paver Sand that you can find at the hardware store for like $3 for 30 lbs or so.

 

[ange92040]

oops sorry yes don't give it to them till they are ready to lay. oops sorry.