How much grit do I feed daily to 4 hens and 1 rooster?

[Bellatrixed]

While it's true that the birds probably get all the grit they need outside, there's also really no reason *not* to feed grit.

Though I've always been curious... does oyster shell also function as a sort of grit since it's so hard? I have both grit & oyster shell available for my hens at all times but I've always wondered.

 

[BarredRockMom]

3riverschick, did you read the entire topic or just the first post? We explained the difference between simple grit and oyster shell for calcium to Annasg in pretty good detail. Anna, I have never given my birds extra grit in more than 12 year of having chickens, they get all they need from the dirt outside. I bought one 25 lb bag of oyster a long time back, give it to them free choice and still have at least half of it left. I have never seen one of my birds have a diarhea problem either. I'm not familiar with your birds wheezing problem so I can't help you there.

I read the entire post. Annasg, I give mine a bowl of grit and a bowl of calcium. They eat what they want/need. If they don't get enough calcium, their shells could be brittle and/or not formed at all. Calcium is a necessary part of a hen's diet because of the amount expended in eggshell production. If LoneOak's not feeding either extra grit or calcium works for his, that's great but I haven't gone that route. My girls free range quite a bit and despite pecking at small rocks, they must not think they get enough grit so they still ingest the grit provided. Everyone has to find the way that works best for them & lots of us learn by experience. What works for one may not work for another.

Take this post to the emergency and sickness thread. This bird needs treatment.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/10/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures
Best,
Karen

There could be lots of reasons for the wheezing & the diarrhea. I hope you take this to the emergency & sickness section, as suggested by 3riverschick.

 

[BarredRockMom]

While it's true that the birds probably get all the grit they need outside, there's also really no reason *not* to feed grit.

Though I've always been curious... does oyster shell also function as a sort of grit since it's so hard? I have both grit & oyster shell available for my hens at all times but I've always wondered.

I agree about there not being a reason not to offer grit. i don't know about anyone else's, but my girls are opinionated enough about what they do/don't like that if the didn't want it or couldn't use it, they wouldn't touch it.

Oyster shell breaks down in their systems. It gets used for bone strength & eggshell production, plus all of the other things that a body uses calcium for. Grit, on the other hand, does not get absorbed into the body's systems. Its primary function is to grind food in the crop into smaller particles before it moves into the rest of the digestive system. As it's used, it breaks down into smaller & smaller particles until it passes from the crop thru the digestive system & gets expelled as waste. As it's breaking down, the chicken will ingest more grit to continue to aid in processing food in the crop. Any grit that makes it to the gizzard does the same thing, just further down the digestive line. I hope that helped a little.