Grit???

[kittyariel]

So yesterday when I got my girls at TS all they had were big bags of oyster shell grit. I didnt get any because I figure they are way to little for the size of it. What should I get for them, maybe parakeet grit? I got up in the night to check on them because they were so quiet and they were snoozing like little angels!

Thanks a bunch!!

 

[CoopCrazy]

I didnt give mine grit til about week two... Thats when they started getting treats... I bought Canary grit from the pet store ... Its really small.... I have heard not to get it with calcium added though, theyre lil bodies can't break it down... I think

They do look super cute when they are sleeping ....

 

[valentinebaby]

My TS sells "Chick" grit - much smaller than regular, but they seem to sell out fast. Just ask yours if they carry it or can get it if that's easier for you than looking for parakeet grit.

 

[georgialee]

My chicks are about a week old and I got them parakeet grit at Petsmart for around $2. I also bought them 25 crickets which they gobbled right up, lol!

 

[kittyariel]

Thanks, I will head for Petsmart, TS didnt have any pine shavings either so I shredded up newspaper for last night. I think tey are about a week old, I can see the beginning of a tail feather and their little wings are turning to feathers.

 

[Jennings Gamefowl]

yep i gave mine grit at 2 weeks to help with pasty butt

 

[Davaroo]

Pasty butt is mostly due to chilling and stress in shipment or handling, and soy based feed fed too soon. I work them into soy feeds slowly. In fact, they get no prepared feeds for the first 5 days or so. If you are seeing pasty butt in older chicks, then something else is wrong.

Chicks dont normally need grit, anyway. Grit is needed in older birds to grind grain and seeds in the crop, or gizzard. If you dont give such things to chicks, then there is little need of it.

A good age-appropriate ration fed properly will give them what they need. Avoid all the "treats" and the desire to pamper them with everything under the sun and you will solve a lot of problems. Apply the KISS principle whenever possible.

I don't give grit, in fact, until they begin to lay - then it is OS for egg shell strength. Once a bird has access to outdoors and the dirt, they get what they need in the way of gizzard grit themselves.

 

[Sallyschickens]

Quote:
Thanks David!

Good information. It answered a lot of my lingering questions resulting from the fact that the feed store gave me chick grit when I wanted chicken grit.

My birds are in a 20x20 outdoor run (in coop at night) and they have access to dirt, stones etc. I also provide O.S. grit for shell strengh. I was worried that they needed "granite" grit, do you think they are covered...enough grit that is?

Sally

 

[speckledhen]

There's grit then there's oyster shell. My own feedstore sells calcium in bags and calls it 'grit'.

Grit is for grinding food and oyster shell is for calcium for eggshell strength. Oyster shell may have some grinding properties, but it isn't to be given to birds who are not laying.