Grit

[ipaharpoon]

At what age do you start giving grit? Is it once you start giving grass and treats? Is there much of a diff. between standard grit and chick grit? How much grit do I give my hens? Do I just sprinkle it out or provide a seperate feeder with grit? TIA!

 

[NatJ]

Just put some in a small dish and let them choose how much to have. The size of the dish will affect how often you need to refill it.

You can start any time after the chicks have learned what "food" is (so probably a few days old.) Chickens can eat commercial chicken feed without grit (crumble or pellet style, depending on the size of the chicken). They should have grit before they eat any other kind of food or treat.

Chick grit is smaller pieces than grit meant for hens. Hens have bigger mouths to swallow it with, and bigger gizzards in which to grind things.

 

[chickenlittle21]

Is it once you start giving grass and treats?

Yes

 

[ipaharpoon]

Just put some in a small dish and let them choose how much to have. The size of the dish will affect how often you need to refill it.

You can start any time after the chicks have learned what "food" is (so probably a few days old.) Chickens can eat commercial chicken feed without grit (crumble or pellet style, depending on the size of the chicken). They should have grit before they eat any other kind of food or treat.

Chick grit is smaller pieces than grit meant for hens. Hens have bigger mouths to swallow it with, and bigger gizzards in which to grind things.

Thanks a bunch!

 

[Buckeye Amy]

I offer it on day one and as they grow I switch from chick grit to adult grit. It aids in digestion even if they aren’t eating foods that require it.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I start chicks on grit as soon as I get them (2-3 days old). For very young chicks, I sprinkle a tiny amount on their feed every few days. For birds older than that, I simply keep various sized grit in a container and they can pick through it if they want.

Size difference between chick and adult grits:

 

[Chuckkeeper]

I offer it on day one and as they grow I switch from chick grit to adult grit. It aids in digestion even if they aren’t eating foods that require it.

When do you make the switch? I've got 15wk olds here, and a bag of chick grit as well as a bag of mixed grit.

 

[rosemarythyme]

When do you make the switch? I've got 15wk olds here, and a bag of chick grit as well as a bag of mixed grit.

I eyeball how big the chickens are and switch accordingly. By 6-8 weeks most chicks have outgrown chick grit. If you're unsure, just set out both sizes that you'd got and they'll pick out what they want.

 

[Chuckkeeper]

I eyeball how big the chickens are and switch accordingly. By 6-8 weeks most chicks have outgrown chick grit. If you're unsure, just set out both sizes that you'd got and they'll pick out what they want.

Thanks. That's helpful (and also explains why chick grit appears to be passing straight through). I've got loads of chick grit & also loads of mixed chicken grit (soluble & insoluble mixed). I'll perhaps mix some up and begin to transition to the larger mixed? I didn't want to offer it too early as it's got calcium in. I've bought the wrong stuff, haven't I?

 

[Sammi_0411]

I started giving my chicks chick flint grit at 2 weeks in a small pot so there if needed chick flint lot smaller and thinner xx