Grit question

[vlapinta]

I have been buying grit for my ducks at my local feed store . When they were tiny I was breaking it up with a hammer. I am wondering if I still have to do this. They are call ducks and they are 5 1/2 weeks old. Here is a picture of the size of the grit.

Vicki

 

[Amiga]

Here is the chick grit I was using.

 

[vlapinta]

Some of the peices look large to me. Will they just leave those or is there a choking hazard I should be aware of?

Vicki

 

[Amiga]

With my runners, I started them on grit at about three days old, so they were fairly small then. They would pick some of the grit out of their feed (and pick the oatmeal over the crumbles

) . Go with what you are comfortable with. Some people offer their birds large-grained sand. With calls, you may just want to use sand.

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
You guessed right they will pick the size that they need. you will be surprized what they can swallow.

 

[vlapinta]

What kind of sand and where would I buy it
would I mix the sand in the feed or offer
it seperately?

 

[katharinad]

I don't give grit to them, nor do I buy it at the feed store. I go straight to the hardware store and buy a bag of builder's sand. They only get it when they cannot get their own garden sand. There is no need to have large pieces of sand/stone. The builder's sand does the same and is easier to pass then the large grit.
Katharina

 

[vlapinta]

Mine don't free range so I need to give them something. Would I mix the sand in their dry food? Would Lowes or Home Depot have buliders sand?

Vicki

 

[Amiga]

I found some at Home Depot. Actually, that is the floor (over hardware cloth) for the pen attached to the duck house. Wow! Giant grit bowl!

 

[vlapinta]

I am confused. I must be missing something. How can you put sand over hardware cloth? Won't the sand just fall through?

Vicki