Grit and oyster shell question???

[Becky89*]

I have older chickens (4years to 8years old) I was wondering how often should I be giving them grit and oyster shells?? In the winter when they are inside I mix it in with their feed once a week. In the spring and summer when they are outside I give it to them once a month...........

 

[rancher hicks]

My understanding from what I've read is grit should be fed free choice. I have container attached to the wall of my coop that I keep grit in. I mix layer grower size grit w/ the oyster shell grit and crushed eggs shells too.

 

[HEChicken]

I'm with Rancher Hicks on this one - I just offer it free choice. They take it when they need it, ignore it when they don't.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Put them in separate containers and feed them free choice as the others have suggested. Neither goes bad so it won't matter if it sits in their cans for months.

.....Alan.

 

[Becky89*]

thank you all so much.......i was worried that I wasn't giving them a enough .......what kind of container should i put it inside so that they can get it?

 

[Kittymomma]

Becky89* :

thank you all so much.......i was worried that I wasn't giving them a enough .......what kind of container should i put it inside so that they can get it?

I use rabbit feeders because they were easy to attach to the wall (a piece of harware cloth stapled between the studs) and I already had some here.​

 

[mdbokc]

Or use simple, cheap bowls. I use two small ones against the coop wall; they empty them as they want. Sometimes in a few days, sometimes it takes weeks.

 

[hollyandty]

I use the sheetrock mud containers. I have them attached to the wall and just keep them half full. The ones I use are plastic. You can buy them at any Home Depot etc.

 

[HEChicken]

I do free and cheap whenever I can so...my shell is in an old yogurt container which I nailed to a deck post and my grit is in a tuna can, also nailed to a deck post.

 

[sydney13]

its best to give it free choice