Grit?

[lmark]

My 25 red broilers came in Wednesday. All seem to be doing fine. I have them on a game bird starter. At what point do they need grit in their diet?

Thanks in advance.

 

[protodon]

If you will be free ranging them, you probably don't need to provide them any grit at all. I know I have never provided my birds with grit and when I slice open their gizzards it looks like a beach in there.

 

[lmark]

So they don't need any grit while they are in the brooder?

 

[protodon]

The earliest I've had mine on the ground is at 4 weeks, the latest would be 6. If they made it up to 6 weeks without supplemental grit then I would say they don't need it.

 

[lmark]

Thats what I needed, thanks!

 

[joebryant]

xxx

 

[joebryant]

For less than $10] you can buy a 50# bag of GRANITE grit from your feed store or have them order it. That's enough to last you a lifetime probably. Why gamble that your chickens are getting the best?

 

[the simple life]

Mine have never gone near their grit so I stopped offering it a long time ago and I have had the same very healthy layers for the past couple of years.
They spend the entire day free ranging and find whatever grit they need all over the yard.
I have never heard of putting grit in the brooder, they get crumbles at that age and don't need it, then they move outside where they find their own grit.
Unless you are feeding them entirely inside their coop and are offering them scraps or whatever I can't see how they would need it.
As for the meatbirds, they are only around for a few weeks and are essentially still babies at the slaughter age, they do fine without grit.
However, I have no idea how long you intend to keep the red broilers for, they grow slower but if you get them out free ranging they will find their own grit anyway.

 

[lmark]

Well, this is all new to me. My understanding is that they will be ready to process around 12 weeks. I plan to have them on the ground at around 4 weeks.

 

[mdbokc]

I think it depends on what it is like for them outdoors. Mine don't hardly touch grit in warm/summer/early fall months. But when it gets to be winter, even free ranging every day, they go through a small bowl every few days. Then they'll quit it again when it gets warmer and what is available while free ranging changes due to the seasons.

But then, I just saw that I am in the wrong forum. Oops! Mine are all layers. Apologies.