Grit for chicks?

[mommathea]

While I was at the feed store last night I saw some chick grit along side the chicken grit. Do I need this. I know chickens need some kind of grit, but do chicks?

 

[CANDLE98]

I would like to know too, I asked my feed store if they had any grit and they told me that they don't sell it. WHAT? they don't sell it. I thought I needed it!

 

[chickenbike]

Odd that your feed supply store doesn't sell grit?! There is a fine grade of grit available for chicks. I provided access to the chick-grade grit at around 8-10 weeks. They had free access at all times and were quickly into it. In an environment where a hen is raising chicks, the chicks are outside with access to dirt etc, right from the get go so I believe it is something that should be provided for hatched chicks.

 

[gritsar]

You'll need it once your chicks are eating solid foods other than their chick starter. Anything that needs grinding up to be digested needs grit. Chick grit isn't available around here so I used plain parakeet grit.
Now that my chickens are grown and free-range every day I don't offer grit. They find plenty on their own.

 

[meriruka]

Nevermind. Sorry.

 

[lilchick]

Go to Walmart or Pet Shop and get a small box of canary and parakeet grit. About a dollar a box!
Go easy on sprinkling it on their feed..They will eat too much and have trouble pooping! I know it happened to some of my chicks once...

 

[cmom]

A chicken's food goes, as is, into the crop, where it is slowly funneled into a very small " stomach" for some digestive additives--then to the Gizzard, where it is 'chewed', that is, ground into material that can be digested as it moves into the intestines and so on. The Gizzard is best able to break down whole grains and other chunky bits that they eat when full of grit. Longest lasting grit is Granite, that lasts well. All other rock and stone is so much softer, that it wears down fast and that is why granite grit is best choice, works really well for best utilization of feeds. My baby chicks are given free choice and they choose it with pleasure, baby/chick grit is fine Granite, as soon as they are given anything besides Starter Crumbles. Their tiny gizzards are at optimum function at an early age.

 

[jbowyer01]

God! Now I know I've lived in the south for too long. I thought you were talking about grits fro your chickens.

I had a response all prepared about how I cook up grits just about every morning for my chickens and how they love it. Boy do I need to visit up north a little more. lol

 

[gritsar]

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Nah, you're fine down here with the rest of us.

 

[WalkingWolf]

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