hard boiled egg with or without grit?

[thelostwolfe]

So we're brand new chick parents and loving every second! My girls are 2 weeks (though we suspect they're a little older) and we wanted to give them a hard boiled egg. I've seen mixed opinions. Can we do this without grit? Or do they need the grit with the egg?

 

[chicklover 1998]

Welcome to BYC, glad you joined, as long as it is a soft food they can have it, fibrous things like grass you need grit for.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Welcome to BYC!

There is always going to be contradicting information about grit.
While they may do just fine processing something soft like hard boiled egg, I am in the camp that if they have anything else to eat besides chick starter, they need to have grit available free choice.
Chicks will only eat a few pieces, it won't hurt them and then you don't have to worry about potential problems down the road.
A bag of chick grit will last a long time, I still have a bit left over when mine were babies, I still put some of the tiny pieces with the regular size poultry grit now, my girls pick out what size they feel like they need - and yes they still eat the small grit sometimes as well, so it's not a waste to have a bag.

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/11/feeding-chickens-at-different-ages.html
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/03/baby-chick-basics-what-you-need-to-know.html

 

[thelostwolfe]

So they just know to eat the grit, right? (that sounds like such a stupid question, LOL)

 

[thelostwolfe]

Thank you! We're so worried about doing something wrong, ya know?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yes, they will eat the grit.
It will make it's way to the gizzard where it is used to grind up food.

http://scoopfromthecoop.nutrenaworld.com/the-importance-of-grit-for-chickens/
https://poultrykeeper.com/keeping-chickens-faq/why-do-chickens-need-grit-oystershell/
https://poultrykeeper.com/digestive-system-problems/digestive-system-chicken/

 

[RIR chicks]

Sooooo, can I give my 1 week old chicks boiled eggs without grit because we don’t have any

 

[Ebony Rose]

Yes you can, and in a pinch, plain old sand will do the trick at that age.

 

[RIR chicks]

Yes you can, and in a pinch, plain old sand will do the trick at that age.

What about fruit? If there are certain types that don’t need grit tell me.

 

[Ebony Rose]

I don't recommend fruit at that age, too much sugar, not enough protein.