How much and how often should I feed my chicks grit?

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

Hello. I let my chicks venture outside yesterday and they all seemed to enjoy eating from the sand pile behind my house. I am going to feed them a hard boiled egg or some sort of treat today. But I was wondering how much grit I should give them or if I should give them any at all. I had a little container of the sand and I put it in their brooder they all ate it over the night. Should I have sand avaliable for them all the time? How much should I feed them?
Also, I have 6 chicks and they are 5-6 weeks old.

 

[wayneh]

keep grit available 24/7. its as improtant to your flock as food and water.

 

[jimz1]

If they are feeding in the sand pile and eating all the grit given to them, won't they get "cement" poop?

 

[suzeqf]

i mix grit in with their feed and sprinkle some in their brooder

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

Quote:
Grit is just tiny rocks. And it is fed to chickens because they dont have any teeth. Grit breaks the food down. So, I dont think they could possible get "Cement" poop.

 

[jimz1]

I read something about "cement poop" on bycf somewhere. I thought it was from too much grit. Can't remember. I'm trying to remember a lot of things I read here but I can't remember all.

 

[wayneh]

don't know abot the cement poop, but our girls will scrach in it and eat bunches of the stuff. they look pretty healthy to me and they have been living outside in the coop for 2 weeks now. they are 5 weeks 3 days old. don't be scared if a lot of sand is missing, they scrach most of it out. mine carry off a lot in their feathers from rolling in it. after rolling they will jump out of the pan strut around they shake off. you can just see the sand flying.

 

[Judy]

I imagine you'll find the sand consumption will go down as they get the amount they need in their gizzards. I would let them choose the amount instead of adding it to the feed. How would you know how much to add?

Just watch the poop for a few days if you are concerned. I don't think you will see a problem.

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

Thanks everyone for answering my question!