Grit?

[Foster's Freehold]

Any feed store will have it. And one bag lasts forever lol. You can put it in a free choice feeder, they know when they need it. I toss some around the run so they can scratch for it like they do in nature.

 

[FamilyFarm12]

Now I feel bad for not giving them grit. I had no ideathis is a stupid question but do oyster shells count...?

 

[Foster's Freehold]

Now I feel bad for not giving them grit. I had no idea

Don't worry, they've probably picked some up somewhere. And you are going to set it right, so it will be ok.

 

[FamilyFarm12]

Ok thank you so much!

 

[aart]

If you offer grit,offer the chicks chick grit.Its little pebbles that sit in the crop and help I guess digest/move the food to the stomach.

No, the gizzard.

Grit is held in the gizzard and it grinds their food like your teeth do when you chew. Without it, crops get impacted and or sour.

Because grit works in the gizzard, it has nothing to do with an impacted crop.

Even tho your birds might find good grit on the ground,
best to provide them some from the get go as it help to develop a strong gizzard.
http://www.jupefeeds-sa.com/documents/GraniteGrit.pdf.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Thanks for the correction

 

[FamilyFarm12]

What can I substitute for it? I can’t pick some up until Monday/Tuesday.

 

[aart]

What can I substitute for it? I can’t pick some up until Monday/Tuesday.

A few more days won't matter.

 

[FamilyFarm12]

Ok. They are in the “garden” scratching around in dirt and straw. Thanks everyone for the advice!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Now I feel bad for not giving them grit. I had no ideathis is a stupid question but do oyster shells count...?

No. Oyster shell is for calcium (which chicks shouldn't have in large amounts) and is meant to dissolve/break down. Grit needs to be harder, in order to help grind the food.