How do you supply your chicks grit and when?

[Friendly_Lurker]

Good to know! Thanks! I have read so much I think I’m in overload at this point. Just don’t want to screw something up!

I don't know if you can go wrong on this! I know from experience that they are fine without it, but it wouldn't hurt to give them some.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I mix the Chick Grit into the Chick feed at a ratio of 1 to 40 by weight. 2 oz of Grit to 5 lbs feed.
I use a kitchen scale to weigh.
I start to mix Grit into feed at 2 weeks, till 10 weeks old.

I offer Adult size Poultry Grit in a separate container after 7 weeks of age. . I drilled six 3/32 holes in bottom of pail to drain moisture. GC

 

[aart]

http://www.jupefeeds-sa.com/documents/GraniteGrit.pdf.

I bought about a 2 gallon bag of granite grit from the local mill, they put it in their chicken scratch. Ran it thru a colander with 1/16" holes. Bagged the smaller stuff for the chicks and sprinkle some over a chunk of sod in the brooder during the second week.

 

[gpresdo]

I never feed grit to chicks, and they seem alright.

You don't have to if they are free range. They will find them in their foraging.
We do make it available in our feeding program ....just for convenience

 

[Henrybelle]

when they start eating other things like vegetation and insects. I don’t feed grit to my chicks they go out for day trips during nice weather and get what they need

 

[Ridgerunner]

One of the first things my broody hens do when they bring the chicks off the nest is go to a bare patch of dirt. The chicks immediately get grit plus they are picking up bits of nutrition, some of which might need to be ground up. I personally do not see where getting git into their system at a very early age is a problem, just don't overdo it.

There may be some rational for delaying giving grit to certain brooder-raised chicks for two weeks, probably depending on how they are managed. I'd love to see where someone said why it's best to wait. Since we raise them different ways the why might be important.

I raise my brooder-raised chicks on wire and generally only feed them chick starter. I could probably wait but I want mine started on flock immunities immediately. If I raised mine on wood shavings or something they could eat, I'd want them to have grit in their gizzard so they can grind that up.

 

[Ihall26]

One of the first things my broody hens do when they bring the chicks off the nest is go to a bare patch of dirt. The chicks immediately get grit plus they are picking up bits of nutrition, some of which might need to be ground up. I personally do not see where getting git into their system at a very early age is a problem, just don't overdo it.

There may be some rational for delaying giving grit to certain brooder-raised chicks for two weeks, probably depending on how they are managed. I'd love to see where someone said why it's best to wait. Since we raise them different ways the why might be important.

I raise my brooder-raised chicks on wire and generally only feed them chick starter. I could probably wait but I want mine started on flock immunities immediately. If I raised mine on wood shavings or something they could eat, I'd want them to have grit in their gizzard so they can grind that up.

I was doing paper towels at the bottom and just switched to pine shavings for litter a little bit earlier this morning because they are pooing up a storm. They love to eat! I did add in the grit so hopefully we will be okay with the pine shavings. They immediately started pecking at it.