Grit....is sand ok

[momoftwinsinwi]

Or should I give them something a little courser???

 

[aran]

play sand is fine mate...i just put a handful or so into each bowl of feed that the birds get. I just started to do it for the babies also, they are 4 weeks old now. The sand costs <$4 for a 50lb bag.

 

[2mnypets]

Sand is fine...also you can find grit in the pet section at Walmart as well as your feed stores. If you let your chicks outside at all even in an enclosed run they are going to find small pebbles and stuff to swallow as well.

 

[Wolfpacker]

Can I mix ground oyster shell and grit in the same feeder?

 

[2mnypets]

I don't see a problem with that. I have two feeders for my big girls and boy (one round and the other long) as well as two red bowls which hold the oyster shell in one and the grit in the other. When I give them scratch I will sometimes put it in the grit bowl as well.

 

[dlhunicorn]

overgorging on sand is often the cause of an impacted gizzard... I would only use course sand...I was reading the other day that the birds will choose round grit that is not likely to splinter (again a risk for impacted gizzard)

 

[devora]

Quote:
Since oyster shell and grit serve two different functions I am not sure how combining them benefits the chickens. Aren’t they offered free choice separately for that reason?

I leave sand out for mine but they really get their grit themselves free ranging. Never had a problem w/ them gorging, but they were about 12 weeks before we put it out.