Gravel and grit

[rosemarythyme]

Rude and unnecessary comment, #9.

Natural sand should not have glass in it, unless you're sourcing from a place where human litter has compromised the sand. It has silica which is commonly used in glassmaking and is also a component of quartz. Most sand has a high quartz content. Granite (the usual choice for chicken grit) also has a large amount of quartz in it, upwards of 60%.

More correctly you could have said (without the rudeness) that manmade sand or sand sourced from compromised areas or sand sourced from very specific areas with high concentration of other minerals can contain impurities or components that might be unsafe for chickens.

 

[3riverschick]

Hi ,
Sand is not best for chicks because it's too fine and tends to pass on through the GI tract. it's also of Uncertain composition and can round off faster under assault from the acid in the gizzard. Granite grit is insoluble, stays sharp in the gizzard and is large enough not to immediately pass right on through the GI tract.
Best,
Karen

 

[Fairview01]

It's a wonder my chickens are still alive. The day after hatching I give them an unlimited supply of construction sand from home depot. At about 6 weeks when I join them up with the flock I keep a constant supply of those small pebbles in the run also from home depot. it's cheap, easy and uncomplicated.