Grit question and thanks!

[Windwhistlefarm]

Question on grit and oyster shells-do you have both on hand for them to eat at will, mix in with feed ?

 

[whathaveidone]

Quote:
Grit accumulates in the gizzard and helps the chickens grind up their food. Without it they can't digest their food.

 

[edselpdx]

Quote:
Great question. My 4.5 weekers seem to LOOOOOVE eating grit. I am supposing that too much won't happen? They have free choice chick grit (granite) in a dish separate from their chick feed. I do know that high calcium (i.e. oyster shells) aren't supposed to be offered untiil they are laying, and then it is in addition to (not instead of) grit.

ed

 

[Windwhistlefarm]

OMG I wish I had found this forum last year when I got my first flock! They have been grossly mismanaged: oyster shells mixed in with their food from days 3-4 of age. I'll apologize to them and make the correction as soon as the farm store opens at 7AM. Thank you, Ed!