Grit Question

[Love My Chickies]

Hello! I'm still learning about chicks. I've had mine for a week, and they're about 2 weeks old. My question is how much grit is too much? Everything I've read says to watch and make sure they don't eat too much, but no one says how much that is. Very confused!

 

[neo71665]

What are you feeding them? Birds that young should only be eating chick feed and don't need grit.

 

[Love My Chickies]

Just feed right now, but I did put some grass from the yard for them, then read that they needed grit for that.

 

[Brooks_]

I'll watch for more experienced answers. That said, let them eat some for a few minutes and it should be fine.

 

[neo71665]

I would worry about getting them grown on a balanced diet first before you worry about giving them "candy".

 

[Brooks_]

before you worry about giving them "candy"

Grass is a candy?

 

[neo71665]

Grass is a candy?

Anything that is not their feed. Birds will fill up on it instead of the feed.

 

[Brooks_]

Anything that is not their feed. Birds will fill up on it instead of the feed.

Tell the to Broody Hen.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Assuming you have the chick grit in a cup, if they're eating noticeable amounts of it, that's too much.

With chicks, rather than freely offer grit, limiting their access may be better because some will gorge on it. I sprinkle it on top of their food (just a pinch once every few days) or you can sprinkle some on the floor of the brooder for them to pick up.

Once they're older, like around 8 weeks or so (big enough to switch to a medium grit) I start offering it in a cup in the coop at that point.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Hello! I'm still learning about chicks. I've had mine for a week, and they're about 2 weeks old. My question is how much grit is too much? Everything I've read says to watch and make sure they don't eat too much, but no one says how much that is. Very confused!

I mix Chick Grit into feed starting at 2 weeks old through 8 weeks old at a ratio of 1 to 40 by weight.
2 ounces Grit to 5 pounds of feed.
I mix it in a small coffee can that holds 21 ounces of feed with 0.55 ounces of Grit with room to spare.

I put on cover and roll and tumble for a couple of minutes to mix, then add to feeder.
My Chicks yesterday at 16 days old. I started mixing in Grit Wednesday.

I got the ratio from a bag of Adult size Poultry Grit.
These are my 4th batch of chicks I've mixed in Grit with feed.
I give them Adult size Poultry Grit in a container at 7 weeks old.

GC