grit? scratch?

[Alethea]

We keep a handful of grit on a plate in the coop. They can eat it or not. It doesn't go bad. I don't worry about it because they are outside most of the day and can scratch around and get what they need. They're more likely to eat more of it in winter when they aren't outside as much. The chickens usually cover the grit plate with straw, then uncover it when they want it!

 

[JodyJo]

I free range mine, they eat gravel all the time, never supplied grit to mine, unless they were small and eating treats and needed it for digestion.
I use scratch, its what they get first in the morning...they hover around for it...but NOT a food need...just for a treat. I also feed BOSS ( Black Oil Sunflower Seed)
You can get it at Walmart...I toss that on the ground as well...helps their feathers sparkle with shininess....(LOL)

But you can throw bird seed down, along with all the other yummies they love...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-Treats_Chart

Here is the BYC treat chart for some ideas.
with winter coming, I prepare a dish of warm oatmeal for mine in the COLD mornings...I get to -20* here in Colorado, so they really enjoy it, I know they are full and a full animal wont freeze to death!

 

[elmo]

Sand is too fine to serve as grit, and oystershell is soluble, so that won't do the trick, either. You can buy poultry grit online. For example:

http://www.randallburkey.com/Poultry-Grit/productinfo/10844/

A 5 lb bag will last forever if you only have a few chickens. I put grit and oystershell in separate dishes in the coop and add more as needed. My flock is still working on their original dish of grit, and I've only added to the oystershell dish a couple of times.

I have bantams; instead of scratch I give them a handful of birdseed every morning which they relish.

 

[Chris09]

You can use Builder Sand or All Purpose Sand it is much courser than play sand.

Chris