How much grit is too much...can there be too much?

[JeninMN]

Just wondering if our chicks could ever get "too much" grit...we have it readily available...there is 29 of them...going thru about 3 to 4 cups a day...give or take...we fill the dish in the a.m and again in the pm...

 

[Chirpy]

Are they actually eating that much or just throwing it around on the ground?

What else do they get to eat? Do they free range at all or have access to the outside ground/dirt?

Generally you do offer grit 24/7 and let them decide how much they need.

 

[BearSwampChick]

If you are feeding chick starter, they don't need grit unless you're feeding a lot of treats. In that case, you should only sprinkle it over the treat, not give it free choice. How old are they?

 

[pkeeler]

They can't eat too much. Grit is by design indigestible and has no calories. The chickens will not substitute grit for real food. Studies show that chicks with access to free choice grit had larger healthier gizzards than those without even if only eating commercial rations. Both the birds getting grit and those that did not ate the same amount of food over the study period. Just make sure there is no oyster shell in the grit you feed chicks.

 

[JeninMN]

Thanks!!

I think they figured out it isn't food in there...so now we aren't going thru it like we were...maybe the first day they weren't sure what it was so...they are 19 weeks old yesterday.

 

[HeadHen]

Is 19 weeks old really considered a "chick"?

 

[JeninMN]

Quote:
I would say maybe not...but thats what I still call them