GRIT a necessary digestive aid

[Heme]

Hi Gang: From Lauren in Dayton, Tennessee.

Anyone who raises Chickens or other foul knows or should know Birds need gravel to assist them in digestion of feed, plants, and insects. Since they do not have teeth and cannot grind edibles, the fine gravel substitutes for that action in their digestive system.

Young birds on started food do not need this grit immediately, but 4-5 weeks thereafter Grit should be added to their food source.

If your foul are on the open range, they generally get sufficient grit when pecking the ground. If enclosed in a house or barn, they need Grit added to the food.

The CHEAPEST method for enclosed foul is washed Builders Sand a course mix of fine sand and small pebbles. Do not use Play Sand and it is too fine and not a good food additive. Fine sand is OK if used with DE and spread inside a pen to kill mites and other pests. (Do not breath DE as it can irritate the lungs and use gloves).

The builders sand I use is in the Lowes Lumber area and cost about $3.50 for a large 50 Lb. bag. You can wash it if you care to by placing a scoop in a colander and rinsing it with water.

Give it a try: Lauren

 

[subhanalah]

It's been studied and they get best benefit starting grit before they are 2 weeks old. Wish I could find the article.

 

[Heme]

2 Week old chicks on Grit? If you use Grit ground to size for small chicks, that is OK!
Builder Sand has all sizes of natural grit and large gravel is naturally avoided by chicks. I would avoid the Builders Sand until the 4th week or beyond as Chicks are like kids with Big Eyes that think they can manage larger portions etc.

Month old birds can manage larger grit and they too avoid pebbles too big to swallow. Just because advertisers make claims their Grit is crushed Marble Stone, etc. is no reason to pay a lot of money for Natural Grit at 10 times less money.

Builders Sand has mixed sizes, some useful and some not, however; a 50 pound bag at $3.50 goes a long way.