Grit for chicks

[Morgan7782]

I have four 1 week old chicks, and I would like to offer them some treats in another week or so. I am headed to the feed store tomorrow, but have never bought 'grit' before. Do they have specific "chick grit"? Would they carry it at a feed store usually? Or what should I get? Any brand names would be helpful as well, I can go anywhere from a feed store to petco or home depot. Whatever you use please offer suggestions. Also, if you happen to have any PICTURES of grit that would be suitable for 2 week old chicks, please do post them so I can have something to compare to.

thanks! My chickies thank you as well lol.

 

[SkyWarrior]

I just bought chick grit at the feed store. I think Nutrena made it. Very tiny for tiny chicks. It's red and very small. Made of granite, if I recall the packaging.

I decided to start feeding grit since I'm giving bits of cooked rice and bits of lettuce too.

 

[chauqg]

You need chick grit or starter grit (much smaller sized) used when feeding grain; not necessary when feeding crumble or pellets. I offered starter grit on demand and did not worry about whether they needed it or not.... DO NOT use oyster grit for chicks since it contains too much calcium and could injure the non-laying chicks.

Good Luck

 

[Morgan7782]

Alright, I will look at some feed stores. I want to give them some treats, and I know grit would help with that. The kind you got was red? Is that O.K. for them? Totally new to grit, or buying it anyway. I will check around today. Thanks for responding, and if anybody else has any Grit suggestions feel free to offer them up.

 

[felidaet]

I buy my grit at feed stores. One of our local stores sells grit in 4 different sizes in 50lb bags for $9.00 a bag. They realize that not many people need a 50lb bag of chick grit and are repackaging some of it in 5 lb bags. They are selling the 5lb bags for $2.50! This is a great price. It is in a plain brown bag. I have no idea what brand it is. I just opened the bag I bought yesterday and see that it is a purpleish color.

Last year a bought a 5 lb bag at a different feed store. This was packaged from the supplier. I don't recall the brand name. I think it was $5.99. The color was redish purple.

chauqg - You mentioned oyster grit. Do you mean oyster shell? Oyster shell is different and is used for a different purpose. Oyster shell is not grit. Grit is crushed rock, usually granite. It's purpose is to grind up the food. Oyster shell is used to increase calcium for making the shells stronger. Oyster shell should not be offered until the chickens start laying. I have grit (#2 size) and oyster shell available 24 x 7 for my laying flock. Each of these are available free choice in their own "feeders".

I am going to set a container of chick grit in the brooder this weekend for my chicks.

 

[triggfamily5]

I wish grit was that cheep here. If I ever find grit in the store, it's one size only in a quart size zip-lock bag that costs me about 8 dollars. Cheaper for me to use contractors sand.

My chicks range between 5 days and 2 weeks, and they have grit avail 24/7 in their brooder since I offered them oatmeal 2 days ago.

 

[Morgan7782]

Hey thanks everybody for responding! I went to the local feed store, and they has 'chick grit'. So I got some, and got some 'chick' scratch for a rare treat. It's just ground up a lot finer then the chicken scratch. Was not too expensive! For 5 lbs of chick crumbles, 2 lbs of grit, and 5 lbs of chick scratch, plus a pig ear for the pup (which the CAT ended up stealing!) it only came to 9 bucks!

I am thrilled. And the chickies LOVED the new varity in food haha.