Grit for chicks

[Chicken0Boy]

Do chicks need grit, and if they do what kind?

 

[catdaddy66]

Only need grit if they eat anything other than starter feed. You can give them treats at 1 week old but they will need grit to help w/ digestion. Parakeet grit is good and can be found at any pet store. It looks just like large grain sand to me. Hope that helps!

 

[midget_farms]

grit not needed.

Just dont' feed them corn or other grain.

 

[chkinut]

well, i went out and bought some parakeet grit at petsmart, come to find out it had calcium in it!

and from what i've read, chicks shouldn't have calcium. so i just got some sand ( i own a home daycare and had plenty) but i boiled it just to make sure it was clean and gave it to the chicks (after it cooled off of course) and so far it seems that things are fine. i need to go back to petsmart and see if they have grit without calcium.

 

[Gonzo]

Quote:
Don't!! The sand will work perfectly, and save you some $ in the end....

 

[chkinut]

gonzo&hispeeps :

Quote:
Don't!! The sand will work perfectly, and save you some $ in the end....

ok, i'll stick with the sand then. thanks! but how old do they have to be to be able to eat the normal grit you would buy for chickens? keep in mind that my 3 chicks are bantams and quite small. but i've got some LF chicks coming in about a week.....so i guess i need an answer for both LF and bantams.​

 

[LittleMamaBigPapa]

I bought HARTZ brand parakeet grit at walmart....it has calcium, which I had not heard they shouldn't have?? My buffs had it and they are healthy and happy.

And what's the deal about not feeding them corn??? Chick Start & Grow feed #1 ingredient is CORN?

 

[Opa]

Chicks could be fed corn but it would have to be ground quite fine. You would want to feed chicks anything other than chick starter unless you also give them grit. Most feed stores carry grit sized for chicks that does not contain calcium just pulverized granite. Personally chick start is just to convienent to mess with anything else.

 

[Gonzo]

Quote:
Don't!! The sand will work perfectly, and save you some $ in the end....

ok, i'll stick with the sand then. thanks! but how old do they have to be to be able to eat the normal grit you would buy for chickens? keep in mind that my 3 chicks are bantams and quite small. but i've got some LF chicks coming in about a week.....so i guess i need an answer for both LF and bantams.

I'm trying to remember! I think something like 14 - 16 weeks old.. hopefully someone will know the exact age. Try to use a corse sand for the grit..

 

[underground chickenman]

I think sand is too fine, unless it is really course, and not all sand has the same hardness. Sand can be made up of rocks and minerals, and even shell fragments (which will add calcium to your sand also). There are too many unknown variables in plain sand that would dissuade me from using it with chicks. I would get a 5lb bag of chick grit at a feed store or TSC and avoid the worry. It's small granite chips.

UGCM