Grit size

[rubyrogue]

So my hens have been foraging today and eating everything they can. I went to pick up some grit but the only kind i could find was for parrots. it looks like sand but a little bigger size. I had also read something about aquarium gravel so i got some of that too but it looks kinda big? its just normal aquarium gravel. How big should the grit be?

 

[Stan]

Hi rubyrogue....

According to NC Granite who sells Gran-I-Grit (real granite grit), the Developer-Layer size grit (good after seven weeks of age) is 3/16" to 5/16". On their website they say that too small sized grit will be past thru the gizzard and will not function to grind up the food. They also say that because granite grit grinds up the food so well that the food can be digested better and reduces the amount of feed that is eaten (up to 20%). My two Buff Opingtons Ladies are on this granite grit and are doing great as 7 month layers. Hope this helps.....

 

[rubyrogue]

Thank you. Where do you buy it? I looked all over town. Do you order it online?

 

[Stan]

Hi rubyrouge....

You can find their website ncgranite.com....select Product Catalogs...and select Grit Mailer. You can read about their Gran-I-Grit products. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area...and I was very concerned about my Ladies showing signs of crop impacting. I was so impressed with NC Granite's information about the most inadequately discussed Grit usage....they had all the answers... I ordered 50 lbs (their smallest amount that's available)...because I could not waste time.... 50 lbs will last me about 12 years (lol) with my two BO hens...and they didn't have any distributors on the west coast... I believe it cost $8 + plus a shipping charge of $60 (gulp)...but I was in a panic...due to the impacted crop conditions... There has to be a cheaper approach then what I went through....but I haven't investigated further....my problem was solved for 12 years... They have some distributors just east of the Mississippi that might fit your needs.... I hope this has helped....a little...

 

[MelindaK]

I have some decomposed grantite that use for landscaping. If I put it in the run, will that work for grit?