how bad is it? i gave my 1 wk old babies a little chick grit

[bj taylor]

i was fretting because i had let them scratch in the pine shavings litter a few times between putting paper towels down. then i thought they would need some grit to process any shavings they might have swallowed. now i'm reading that the calcium can kill their kidneys. i have given them a little bit since yesterday & none today.
is it too late - have i hurt or killed my babies?

 

[Wisher1000]

Try not to worry, it will likely be fine. Grit and oyster shell are two different things, if it was granite grit, it is fine. If it was oyster shell, just don't give them any more til they are old enough to lay.

 

[McKenley5]

I sprinkled a little chick grit in the brooder with some 1 week olds a few days ago. Nothing bad has happened. I am not sure if they have eaten any of it or not though. If they were in a "natural environment" (the yard), then they would have access to little pebbles anyway. I am guessing that it is not a huge deal. Maybe someone else has a good answer??

 

[bj taylor]

thank you wisher 1000. they have been so healthy & doing wonderfully - i would be devastated if i wrecked them. i think it is granite. surely the package would specify if it was oyster shell.
i will wait & see what happens.

 

[junglebird]

I've also not had any issues with fine grit for chicks, Mine have it in their grain/egg/greens mixture starting day 2 (chicks being raised by mama).

 

[cafarmgirl]

Oyster shell and grit are two different things and the package will specify which it is. You don't want to buy parakeet grit for them because that does contain calcium. But you can give them grit specifically labeled for chicks from a feed store. It is finer then what is sold for hens and contains no added calcium.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Your babies will be fine. I provide grit (just dirt from my yard) from day one. If they were with a mama hen they would eat the dirt, so I give them some in a Tupperware container....never had a problem.