Grit???

[emilynieuwerkerk]

Hi everyone,
My chicken has impacted crop (I think) and have read a lot that they need grit (I’m new to this). My chickens free range every now and again yet spend a lot of the time in the coop meaning they probably don’t get enough grit.
does anyone know how to make grit out of things that you’d have at home?As no one sells grit where I live and it costs a lot to get it shipped.
thank you!

 

[Sablehaven]

Ground up egg shell, rough dirt/sand, run it through a sieve to remove the finer stuff. You may find something in garden stores. Pet stores sometimes carries grit for other bird. Good luck.

 

[Tonyroo]

If you have a hardware store buy a small bag of coarse sand, it contains various sizes and your chicken will pick out the right size. Make sure it's not dust size.

 

[Tonyroo]

I have never given my chickens grit cause my whole backyard has that size naturally. They just pick it up where ever they happen to be.

 

[Hidrainja4]

Pet stores carry grit for parakeets you can find it where ever they sell pet supplies. It will work. You only need to feed them grit once a week or put it in a dish and they will take it when they want to. It last in there gizzard for about two weeks so you do not need to feed it everyday.

 

[rosemarythyme]

How old are you chickens? A lot of the above suggestions are for something chick sized at best, nothing big enough for teen or adult chickens. Eggshell is 100% NOT a substitute for insoluble grit - it is a partial substitute for oyster shell, which is different.

Most commercial grit is simply granite - so gravel of the right size of will suffice. Grit sizes by age:

 

[Thechicksdigme]

Try multi purpose sand from Home Depot. This is what I use for grit and have no issues.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/SAKRETE-60-lb-Multi-Purpose-Sand-40100307/100350266

 

[horscraz]

Our run is mostly compacted sand. Would I need to supplement with grit?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Our run is mostly compacted sand. Would I need to supplement with grit?

No, as long as the pieces are big enough to do the job, and accessible throughout the year (like not frozen under 2' of snow).

 

[Teyram]

I'm going to give my chicks mealworms and everybody says to give them grit when feeding them something different then feed. There is a bag called double duty eggshell maker and grit combined. Is this bad or good for the chicks??? Should I just feed them just grit cuz they don't need eggshell maker since they are still young???