Grit question

[EggSighted4Life]

I also don't use grit because I use washed river sand in my coop.

However if your run is bare dirt, I suggest that you start to build up leaves and cut grass, pine needles and such. Bare dirt is unhealthy with no extra microbes and worms to break stuff down Think forest floor!

Having been told chick crumbles are already ground, I also never used grit in the brooder. However I have seen studies showing that chicks fed grit earlier on get more developed gizzards.

 

[CatSeg57]

What is the best thing to use for grit?

 

[coach723]

This is what I use: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/manna-pro-poultry-grit-25-lb
It also comes in smaller bags. "Poultry Grit" is for adult birds, "Chick Grit" is smaller size and for chicks.

 

[Ridgerunner]

What is your definition of "best"? If you buy it you'll get granite that is a by-product of a granite quarry. They sift the waste rock through a screen to get the right sizes and bag it. Granite is great rock for grit because it lasts a long time in the gizzard. Those bags are pretty inexpensive.

If your ground is rocky, just give them access, they'll take care of the rest. It's free and takes no work from you.

If you have access to a rock pile, maybe in a stream, just get some of those. For adults you need pebbles the size of a green pea of smaller. How long that lasts in their gizzard will depend on what rock it is though size has some influence. This may take some work from you but the price is really great, as in free.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

There are a lot of good sources as long as it is some sort of insoluble stone/rock. However it has to be appropriate sizes.
For chickens there is #1 chick grit for very young birds, #2 for adolescents and #3 for adults - or any bird over about 9 weeks.
IMHO, it is very inexpensive so it doesn't hurt to buy it.
http://www.tccmaterials.com/pdf/CSpoultrygritdata.pdf

 

[lazy gardener]

Whether you need to supply grit is totally dependent on your soil type, and somewhat dependent on your climate, and your management style.

My soil grows rocks. Lots of insoluble grit type rocks... from 1/8" to boulder size. So my birds can find their own grit. BUT, if they are being housed on part of my lawn which is imported sandy loam, there would not be any grit there. If they never get out of their DL coop and run, they would have a hard time finding grit. And, my soil is frozen solid from sometime late Nov. through mid April. No grit then!

My chicks? They get a clump of sod from my lawn, and a scoop of grit from my driveway within the first week of their lives. And I continue to offer both every week until they are weaned from their outdoor MHP brooder. Birds were created with a gizzard. If they don't have access to grit, they are going to be seeking something to fill that instinctive need. IMO, this is why folks see chicks eating shavings.