Good practice or not?

[Chas0218]

I'm just curious as to whether this is good practice or not.

Currently we have a 30lbs. feeder that we keep full with layer pellets, they have access to it 24/7 (in the coop to help keep away rodents). Water is in the run also never let it run dry. The shells on the eggs aren't deformed and are harder than store bought eggs. I do throw down 1 quart of scratch grain/cracked corn alternating every couple days in their run.

Only reason I am asking is a friend of ours said we need to feed them oyster shells on top of layer feed but I read that the layer feed has enough calcium we don't. They also said the chickens need poultry grit but I was under the impression they will get this if they are out in the run. We don't have any oyster shells or grit that we feed the chickens as of right now but if you all think it is warranted then we will.

Thanks,
Chas

 

[Chas0218]

Our run is 30x15 coming off our coop, the plan is to cover it by winter so the chickens have some bare ground during the winter.

Also with our chicks (approx. 8 weeks) should they be getting grit with their grower/starter feed (crumble)?

 

[Kessel23]

Oyster shells? No, layer feed will be enough, unless you start noticing thin shells or other signs that they need more calcium then you should not need to provide oyster shells.
You should provide grit though, birds can get enough from free ranging but if they are in the run all the time they will not be finding much. You can buy grit at TSC.

 

[wyoDreamer]

It definitely wouldn't hurt them to have it available.
I feed layer and have oyster shell available. They do eat additional oyster shell, but not much. My 35# bag of oystershell is over 1/2 full still and I have had 12 chickens using it for over 3 years.
Same with the grit. My chickens have access to a run and my native soil has alot of small stones in it that they pick for grit, but they still pick grit from the bowl of it that I have in the run. They will spend 15-20 minutes sifting through the bowl of grit to find the exact piece that they want, lol.

 

[21hens-incharge]

How many birds?

Eventually all the accessible grit in a run gets depleted. Even in a situation where they have time out in an average back yard it is a good idea to have hen grit in a dish for them.

As to oyster shell......I do use it too. Mine grab a little here and a little there. Some hens just need more than the feed provides. It becomes more apparent as they age. While they are young their bodies will divert calcium from the bones to make good shells. Eventually that is to much in them.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Layer ration *should*provide sufficient calcium and from the sounds of it, for your birds, it is. Free choice calcium, though, will allow individual birds to adjust as needed when their bodies dictate.
Soil composition determines availability of appropriate grout materiel.....not all soil is equal. In an enclosed space, you will also have to monitor for exhaustion of what is naturally present.
Personally, for me, the cost of each is so minimal (os costs me under $3/yr, grit less than $2...I buy each in 50lb jahs, they last me years with a flock of 20) that I consider them among the "better to have and not need than need and not have...", plus I dont use layer ration so the calcium is a must have for my flock.
Age appropriate grit throughout development is not just about digestion of the feed they are on at that time (ie the, if all they have is crumble they dont need grit thought process) but about building a strong digestive system overall.

 

[Chas0218]

How many birds?

Eventually all the accessible grit in a run gets depleted. Even in a situation where they have time out in an average back yard it is a good idea to have hen grit in a dish for them.

As to oyster shell......I do use it too. Mine grab a little here and a little there. Some hens just need more than the feed provides. It becomes more apparent as they age. While they are young their bodies will divert calcium from the bones to make good shells. Eventually that is to much in them.

As of right now 5 birds in a fresh run brand new about a week ago

So I'll grab some grit and oyster shells. Can I just spread the grit in the bottom of the run? I was thinking this wouldn't be much different than naturally scrounging. Also they are getting more free ranging time as they have been getting used to laying in their new coop. I didn't want them to start laying outside the coop and making a giant scavenger hunt everyday for eggs.

As of right now they free range about 3 acres worth of our 40 acres so I think they will be getting enough grit from their free ranging but can't be sure. I just don't want them to start developing crop issues. Kind of a preventative maintenance thing.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I would put the grit and oyster shell in dishes in the coop. No waste that way.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I prefer to contain grit and os....I have one of these for each mounted in my run (I also feed/water in the run)

 

[Frazzemrat1]

I prefer to feed all flock and offer oyster shell on the side. They eat as much as they need, and you can feed the same feed to your 8wk olds as you do the hens and not have to double up on feed.
As for the grit, I'd always offer the appropriate size on the side. As mentioned above, a run can be depleted quickly, especially if they aren't free ranging at all. Also, it all depends on the type of soil you have available. If your in sandy loam or clay, there's not enough grit available. More rocky soils will have some grit available, but again, in a run it will be depleted.
I offer OS, and grit on the side for my chickens, and they occasionally range my yard and gravel drive. With the gravel in the drive, they don't use as much grit, but I still keep it available.