Grit for brooder?

[3riverschick]

Yes they're going to select the best of what is available .the best that is best for them is insoluble sharp-edged grit. Granite is the best selection there. Granite grit for poultry began because the poultry farmers in the 1930s clamored for it . they realized that when they fed sharp-edged insoluble Grit their Birds laid more eggs.
It's not about what the birds can get by with, it's about what's best for the birds. Fed sharp-edged insoluble grit, the bird grows a healthier larger stronger gizzard. this helps the bird to stay healthier plus it lays up to 20% more eggs per bird.
There is an 89 Page ,'Bibliography of Grit " online (full view read, keyword searchable) at Hathitrust Digital Library. you can read it all there. each cite in the bibliography has an abstract of that study.
I don't understand the aversion to feeding Granite grit . People spend so much time on mealworms, special treats, sprouting seeds, fancy coops and all this . Yet for some reason, something as important to the bird as proper grit seems to be adverseral. It's less then $10 for a 50 pound sack. The granite poultry grit industry started in 1935. For over eighty years, poultry Farmers have known that Granite grit is the best for chickens.
Best,
Karen

 

[MigraineMan]

This one? Published by the Granite Grit Institute of America? (probably not the most objective group to ask about the use of granite grit ...)

There's definitely useful information in there, and there do seem to be some references that indicate granite grit produces an optimization under certain circumstances ... but it's hardly conclusive that granite is THE one true grit for poultry.

 

[3riverschick]

Yes this is the bibliography. it's just a fascinating read. I agree not all the cites are pro Granite grit. but taken as a whole ,when the whole bibliography is read ,granite grit comes out the best choice among all the alternatives.
Best ,
Karen