Grit? And What To Do With It?

[Quail862]

I gave them egg shells and they love it.

 

[Coturnix Quail]

Kay, thanks!

 

[Binki]

Ohh, I have had chickens for just one season and we were told to give them oyster grit, which would make sense for them since they lay us one big egg nearly every single day so I don't think they would get excess calcium, they're also let out most days.

I've been using oyster grit with the quail, thinking that it does the "gritty" job before it gets digested - I wonder if there's an appropriate parrot grit I could get them? I've found so many bits of plastic and stuff in sand and soil I've bought, I'd like something more refined - I did have some coarse sand for cockatiels etc. but not sure if quail would need bigger than that, like a small parrot?

 

[lomine]

Ohh, I have had chickens for just one season and we were told to give them oyster grit, which would make sense for them since they lay us one big egg nearly every single day so I don't think they would get excess calcium, they're also let out most days.

I've been using oyster grit with the quail, thinking that it does the "gritty" job before it gets digested - I wonder if there's an appropriate parrot grit I could get them? I've found so many bits of plastic and stuff in sand and soil I've bought, I'd like something more refined - I did have some coarse sand for cockatiels etc. but not sure if quail would need bigger than that, like a small parrot?

I think whoever told you that was confused. There is grit and there is ground oyster shell. They are two different things. There is no such thing as oyster grit. (Unless that's what oyster shell is referred to in places outside the U.S..)

 

[geniash]

The feed store next to me sells pigeon grit which is perfect size for quails.

 

[Coturnix Quail]

Wow. Your lucky. I don't have a feed store within my town

 

[pkhunter]

Wow. Your lucky. I don't have a feed store within my town

Are you in the US or another country? I thought every town in the US would have a feed store. Maybe its a southern thing, we have them everywhere. You can get most of these things on ebay .

 

[Coturnix Quail]

Yeah. In the US. But appperantly, there aren't any here. lol

 

[geniash]

Yeah. In the US. But appperantly, there aren't any here. lol

Where are you at?

 

[Ariestar]

So until chicks are of egg-laying age, you shouldn't give them egg-shells or oyster shell, because the extra calcium would be harmful. I use a dish of contractor-grade sand for grit. (playground sand is too fine) Funny thing to see them eat it up, but then I can give my chicks treats & it won't harm them. Free-range, they would be eating stones & such, but I keep them mostly in a coop until they start laying, so that they will eat the starter fee. They need the sand to digest anything but chick-starter.