Grit Question

[BarredBuff]

Is oyster shell and grit the same thing?

 

[Dora'smom]

No. Grit is actually small stones that the bird will usually pick up naturally if they are free-ranging, but needs to be supplied for them if they are in a coop/run situation. The swallowed stones sit in their crop and grind up the food they eat (since chickens don't have teeth). Oyster shell is a good source of calcium. Important for laying hens.

Christina

 

[ranchhand]

No. Oyster shell is a calcium supplement for laying hens, to help create healthy shells. Grit is to aid digestion for all birds.
Mine live on dirt floor pens and freerange a bit, so grit lasts a long time around here. The laying hens get oyster shell free choice, I refill the holder once a week.

 

[BarredBuff]

I didnt think it was but suprisingly you cannot find grit here even TSC doesnt have it or the Feed Store

 

[PandoraTaylor]

you can get grit from any petstore; they sell it for parrots, parakeets etc.
Or you can go to almost any hardware store to get a bag of course sand or pea gravel.

 

[sjh]

Dora'smom :

No. Grit is actually small stones that the bird will usually pick up naturally if they are free-ranging, but needs to be supplied for them if they are in a coop/run situation. The swallowed stones sit in their crop and grind up the food they eat (since chickens don't have teeth). Oyster shell is a good source of calcium. Important for laying hens.

Christina

Once agian grit is used in the gizzard not the crop. The crop only holds food.​