home-made grit

[VAeggman]

I seem to use so little shell is why I wanted to crush my own. Good call on the 10 bucks!

 

[VAeggman]

I was told it was a grit replacement for adult hens??

 

[dipence71]

I know it can be confusing

so here is my 2 cents lol..

No it is not a "grit" replacement. Grit is gravel, granite, basically indigestible rocks they need to grind up their food in the gizzard.
Oyster shell is a calcium supplement that adult laying hens eggs need to have correct shell production.
They are 2 totally different things.
So younger chicks need

grit if free ranged or given treats but do NOT need oyster shell. Adult laying

hens need both free choice.

Hope that helps clear up the confusion..

 

[Essentiallyokanaganmom]

If they are free ranged will they not find what they need in the dirt/ground?

 

[rosemarythyme]

If they are free ranged will they not find what they need in the dirt/ground?

It depends on your soil or whatever else is available on your lot. If you don't have rocky soil or loose gravel around, you need to supplement. If you get hard freezes in winter, you need to supplement. Rather than guess I find it easier to spend $5 on a bag of grit that'll last forever.