Grit

[bunky8384]

What is the best way to feed my chicks grit? Do I just leave a feeder out with it? Also, do I need to get chick grit or would any poultry grit be fine?

My chicks are 7-8 weeks and have some 2 week EE's still in a brooder, no adults.

Thanks!!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

If you are just feeding starter than grit isn't necessary. If you want to offer some get the chick grit. Often at that age mine are outside, or I give them a chunk of sod with soil and they find their own grit.

 

[BYCforlife]

You can feed it free choice, but as @oldhenlikesdogs said, it's only necessary when they are eating things like grass and bugs.

 

[rosemarythyme]

At 7-8 weeks they can probably take smaller adult grit. If you leave out a dish of it, they can pick and choose what they need.

 

[aart]

I 'made' my own chick grit by sifting a 5# bag of regular grit from the feed mill thru a colander with 1/8" holes in it...yeah, tedious, but now I have a stash of chick grit.

I sprinkle some on a chunk of sod in the brooder the first week,
then out with cracked grain chick starter in their run.

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

 

[chickens really]

Do you mean Grit or Oyster shell?..Many people confuse the two. I toss Grit in my Run only in winter for my Birds . Summer they scratch up enough for themselves. Oyster shell is for active layers..

 

[GC-Raptor]

I've been mixing Chick Grit with Start & Grow feed. 2 ounces Grit with 5 pounds of feed since 2 weeks of age. That's a 40 to 1 ratio.
They turned 4 weeks yesterday. . I will do this till 8 weeks or so when i transition to Poultry Grit. GC

 

[Criticalicious]

Better to offer chick grit in a dish on the side and let them decide how much they need. At first they will fill up on it, but after a few days, they'll slow down and only take what they need.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Better to offer chick grit in a dish on the side and let them decide how much they need. At first they will fill up on it, but after a few days, they'll slow down and only take what they need.

That's the thing I'm afraid of..... they gobbling down too much grit and causes some sort of stomach issue which is why I just throw some on the ground spread around everyone once a week or so. Sometimes I sprinkle it onto their feed too.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I use empty Vienna Sausage cans that have had the open edge gone over with a can opener to reduce sharp edges. I also knock 4 or 5 holes in the bottom of the can with a 16 penny nail. These holes in the bottom of the can are for drainage.

Then I drill 4 holes on the side of the can in the shape of a square and use these 4 drilled holds to fix the aluminum can onto the inside of the coop using short pieces of 17 gauge electric fence wire. Where ever you put your cans of grit make sure that the chickens can't scratch the can full of dirt or litter.