Grit questions

[Kristin153]

Hello!

I have baby chicks who are almost 1 week old. I have limited farm store options around me, but the one I have only has adult grit. Will this work for chicks? Do I need grit yet?

Thank you!

 

[cavemanrich]

You don't need grit if you feed Chick Starter Feed, or other processed feed. Grit is only needed when chickens eat other food , especially grains. If your chickens will free range, they will pick up grit from soil, and wherever they can. You can get the adult grit and when your chickens are big enough to swallow such, they will. Chickens are smart enough to know their capabilities.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and

 

[Kristin153]

Thank you! Yes they are on chick starter and will have access to my fenced yard under supervision, so not technically free range. Thanks for helping clear this up

 

[chickengeorgeto]

To be effective chicken teeth grit must be insoluble and multi facited so that it can do a good job of grinding or cutting up partially digested seeds, forbs, and the bones of small animals and the external skeletons of insects and mollusk. Go ahead and give them the adult size grit in another week or two that will be where they are at as far as grit is concerned anyway. Feed your grit in an empty Vienna Sausage can and hang it up out of the way of anything that your birds may scratch into it.

 

[cavemanrich]

To be effective chicken teeth

Every now and again our paths cross,,, You always have GOOD ADVICE, from long time of chicken keeping.
Do you think my chicken needs grit???

 

[Kristin153]

To be effective chicken teeth grit must be insoluble and multi facited so that it can do a good job of grinding or cutting up partially digested seeds, forbs, and the bones of small animals and the external skeletons of insects and mollusk. Go ahead and give them the adult size grit in another week or two that will be where they are at as far as grit is concerned anyway. Feed your grit in an empty Vienna Sausage can and hang it up out of the way of anything that your birds may scratch into it.

Thanks! I was wondering how to "dispense" it

 

[Aji Dulce]

Every now and again our paths cross,,, You always have GOOD ADVICE, from long time of chicken keeping.
Do you think my chicken needs grit???
View attachment 1371907

 

[aart]

I have taken 'adult' sized grit and run it thru a colander with ~1/8" holes.
that will give you plenty of chick sized grit.
I just toss some on the ground along with the ground grain chick starter I use as 'chick scratch'.

http://www.jupefeeds-sa.com/documents/GraniteGrit.pdf.