Grit substitute?

[black_cat]

I have run out of grit and am worried that my girls aren't getting enough. Anything I could use until our order comes?

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

Okay, some people here aren’t understanding the difference between soluble grit and insoluble grit, so I’ll try and explain it the best I can here.

Soluble Grit:
-oyster shells, eggshells, limestone, etc.
Used for calcium supplements in poultry.

Insoluble Grit:
-small rocks, normally granite.
Used in the gizzard to help digest food. Works like teeth for the bird.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I've never seen grit in any of the feeds I've tried.

My adult chickens pick up grit maybe once a month, if that. Obviously they're not dead yet. Not having grit for a few days won't hurt a thing. They accumulate it in their gizzards for grinding down feed, but it can take weeks or maybe months for a piece of grit to wear down enough to get "kicked out."

 

[ShannonR]

Yes. I will stop feeding any treats while we don't have grit. I am asking for a substitute because I am A) Worried that they have not been getting enough in the past few days, so would like to have it available for them to help fill in that gap, and B) Worried that there is other stuff may get into their run, like leaves and bugs and feathers, that they could eat and need grit for.

You're going over the top on the grit issue here. BAGGED CHICKEN FEED HAS GRIT IN IT. Now please stop worrying, there is nothing to stress over and continually ask questions about. This is a non-issue

 

[rosemarythyme]

Here is my evidence against there being grit in chicken feed:

Here is me trying to fit a rock on the smaller side into the ‘pellet’. As you can see, it would be pretty obvious if it was in it.

You don't even have to go that far. With a whole grain mash, it's very obvious what's in there and what's not. With pellets or crumble, just dissolve it in some water to see what's in there and what's not, as they quickly dissolve into mush.

Simple answer is I'm sure there's brands of feed out there that might include grit, but certainly not all brands include it.

 

[Kiki]

Stop feeding all treats and you won't need grit...if they eat only chicken feed.

 

[Kiki]

I'm getting some conflicting information on sand. Should I just go around and try to find a bunch of tiny rocks? Grit is going to be ordered tomorrow.

Are you aware of the search function here on BYC?

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

It’s not that chicken food has grit, it’s that it turns to mush so grit isn’t needed.

Babies don’t have teeth. Babies can eat baby food because it’s a mush, not because it has teeth in it.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

I’m always amused by grit (and oyster shell) pricing.

At my local TSC, a 5 lb bag cost $6.99. A 25 lb bag costs....$8.99.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

Interviewer: TSC, how do you stay in business with your horrible grit pricing system???
TSC: Great question. We don’t know.

“We save money by carrying almost no inventory” seems to be the story near me. If you go in for 5 things, they’ll probably have 2 of them.