How fast do hens go through grit + shell?

[black_cat]

I know that they don't eat it like food, and will only take it when they need it. I can figure this out on my own when my hens come, but the grit I ordered comes in MUCH smaller bags than anticipated, so I'd like to know if I should order more soon. I will be getting three barred rock hens.

 

[RojoMarz]

I got both grit and oyster shell in 5 lb bags. I have 7 pullets. They don't seem to going thru it that fast. I just order more when I'm getting low. I have gotten grit from Amazon and an online farm supply. I check to see the best price.

 

[Doc7]

I know that they don't eat it like food, and will only take it when they need it. I can figure this out on my own when my hens come, but the grit I ordered comes in MUCH smaller bags than anticipated, so I'd like to know if I should order more soon. I will be getting three barred rock hens.

based on my trends last year, 6 birds go thru 5 lbs of each in 6 months. I feed flock raiser.

 

[rosemarythyme]

My chickens don't use up much grit. I've had the same bag of layer grit since the beginning, am on the second bag of pullet grit now (that seems to be their preferred size) and chick grit I'm still using the handful I got for the previous batch of chicks.

Oyster shell I use up faster, and I attribute that to the fact that I feed both layer and grower to the hens. I go through maybe two, two and a half 4-lb-bags of oyster shell a year.

 

[GC-Raptor]

For Oyster Shells it depends on what you feed.
My first Flock "5 Golden Comets" I fed a Layers feed from 18 weeks old and a 5 lb bag lasted 11 months. So about a pound Shells a year per hen.
The second year I switched to a Non-medicated Starter/Grower or a All-Flock crumble. 5 lbs were gone in 4 months or so, estimated.
Poultry Grit "Granite". It depends on your soil and if you let them Freerange and if the soil freezes during winter or is covered in snow.
My chickens Freerange an hour daily weather permitting and ground freezes during winter.
My first 25 lb bag lasted over 3 years. So 1 to 2 lbs a year per hen. . GC

 

[HENS-and-MARES]

My chickens barley eat any! They eat the food and leave the grit.

 

[maryn7]

Oh wow. My three pullets (9 weeks tomorrow) ate a *ton* of chick grit when I started offering it three weeks ago. They seem to be leveling off now - aren't really taking very much any more, so maybe they were just keen to fill their crops? But at first I couldn't keep it in the bowl. They've maybe gone through half of a 5lb bag in three weeks. They never seemed to be eating it instead of feed, but were always happy to see it. (For reference, they are on grower crumbles and free ranging in the backyard during the day, but feed is always available.)

They seem totally happy and healthy - but is there anything I should look out for that would indicate they're eating too much? It seems way more than what you all are describing.

 

[pintail_drake2004]

I have free choice oyster shells all the time. I buy 50# bags a few times a year. I don't offer grit anymore as I free range my birds all day. There is plenty of stuff for them to pick up.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

My five 11 week old chicks go through a bag of chick grit it about two weeks. I mean about half of it ends up on the floor anyways.