Grit Addiction

[pennyJo1960]

look at your layer maximum my 16 is not good enough for most layers that is what being offered I feed 18% max and min I also offer oyster but do not go through much although it is 5 gallon metal bucket always there... How many birds do you have ? ages? coop space? this can be a problem also

 

[chickens really]

Hello..
Layer feed in many cases is not high enough in protein and certain minerals. Most layers need a higher balance diet.
That's why I feed Grower with oyster shell on the side and grit I toss a few handfuls into my Run for them to scratch around for.

 

[rjohns39]

The reason I ask, is I've had the co-op and feed store try to sell me oyster shell as grit and technically it is. There are two basic types of grit: Soluble and insoluble. OS is soluble which means it breaks down in the gizzard and the bird can use the nutrients from it (calcium for oyster shell). Insoluble grit is generally made from granite, quartz, or limestone or possibly a combination of two or more. Limestone is the softest and also loaded with calcium. The harder the stone, the longer it will stay in the gizzard without breaking down. Depending on manufacturer, grit typically comes in four or five sizes:

• Chick grit: 1/16"
• Grower grit: 3/16: (not available where I am)
• Chicken grit: 5/16"
• Turkey grit: 3/8" (not available where I am)
• Some sell a 1/2" or 5/8" for turkey as well.

I have rocky soil and still provide grit free choice. When I process gizzards I find a lot of what I provide as well as a lot of larger stones. I know a lot of folks who don't buy their grit from the feed store but instead use their local quarry. Not all quarries have the equipment to grind to 5/16" or smaller, but generally there will be one not too far that does.

As an interesting side note, a lot of nutritionists use a 50/50 mix when blending feed using 50% limestone and 50% oyster shell to meet the calcium requirements. So it's entirely possible that you have limestone already present in your layer feed. To put this in perspective, my grower has 10# of limestone per Ton.

 

[tigger19687]

Because my yard is all snowed in, hens can't scratch for Grit. I tossed in a few handfuls into the coop so they can scratch around for it and also put a handful on top of the cinder block that has my waterer on.
One of my hens LOVES to eat the oyster shells. Every once and a while I think her crop is full of it !
I leave out oyster shells for free choice. If they didn't need it they wouldn't eat it.
I also feed layer

 

[Cryss]

Are your chickens of laying age? You haven't mentioned egg condition.

 

[lazy gardener]

a lot of nutritionists use a 50/50 mix when blending feed using 50% limestone and 50% oyster shell to meet the calcium requirements.

Here's a limestone ? for you. I hear varying opinions about using limestone to sweeten the deep litter in the coop, and to sprinkle a bit on the soil or DL in the run. I also hear that certain types of limestone are "too hot" and will damage the chicken's feet. Following that discussion, I picked up a bag of Agricultural lime, though I'd have to go down and look at it to know what it is specifically. I'd love your feed back on what is an appropriate grade/type of limestone to use in coop and run.

One of my hens LOVES to eat the oyster shells. Every once and a while I think her crop is full of it !
I leave out oyster shells for free choice. If they didn't need it they wouldn't eat it.
I also feed layer

My flock is on layer feed as well (usually fermented). I offer oyster shell, though not all the time. When egg production goes up, or I see eggs with rough shells, I put out the OS. IMO, they will eat it when needed, and leave it if it's not needed. I think some birds do not metabolize calcium as well as others, therefore their needs are higher.

Are your chickens of laying age? You haven't mentioned egg condition.

Excellent question.

 

[Welshies]

You should be feeding maintenance or all flock feed with a protein level of 18-20%. Feeding layer feed to non-laying birds (hens, roosters, chicks) can harm them or slow development. Provide oyatershell on the side.

 

[rjohns39]

LG Ag Lime which is just crushed limestone is fine for the run many old timers swear by it while others say it doesn't do a thing. I have no personal experience as I went with sweet PDZ, which works well for me. hydrated lime is caustic and probably shouldn't be used in a coop. Here are a couple threads that talk about them.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/is-it-safe-to-use-lime-in-the-chicken-coop.47639/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/can-you-use-lime-powder-in-your-coop.805126/

 

[Kacey Elle]

Hi all,

Thanks again for the responses. I will go out to take a picture of a handful of the grit and the nutrition info from the feed in a few hours.

Background: I'm a teacher asking about a schoolyard flock. We got the chickens to be part of our organic garden on campus. Most of the research that I reference was done by high school students so there certainly could be gaps that need to be filled (that's when I come to BYC!).

To answer your questions:

-Chickens are seven to eight months old.
-Laying seems normal; we have had a slow down in the last two months that I attribute to colder weather since everyone was laying normally until the weather changed. We went from getting about 14 eggs a day to getting an average of 11.
-I have 4 EEs, 5 red stars, 5 delawares, 2 wynadottes, 2 RIRs.
-Coop space is under what is recommended by BYC--we have about 2.5 square feet per chicken. That being said, we're in California and the chickens have a covered run they can access 24/7. I've never seen them stay in the coop during the day. We recently had a storm (what passes for one in California) and pretty low temps (50s). The girls were still out in the run.
-The run is a bit small for our chickens. We have an expansion plan in place but are waiting for funding (the problem of using monies that come from a school). We're at about 7 square feet per chicken right now.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

If you are feeding layer you shouldnt need Oyster shell.
Chickens do need grit to help digest their food
how many chickens do you have ?

You should always provide oyster shells, it's a cheap insurance policy against egg eating caused by a calcium deficiency. Layer ration is a one size fits all ration, some hens need more calcium than what is in the ration and some need less, that's one reason I no longer feed a layer, I saw too many shell quality issues. Now on an all flock ration I see no problems.