How much grit?

[oherman]

I have 6 3-day old chicks in the brooder. I know I should mix the chick grit into their food and I have, but how much is too much? Is there a too much?

 

[RonC]

At three days old they should still be on there starter food and don't require grit as it is easy for them to digest. As soon as you start giving them treats nd other foods then they will require "chick" grit which is smaller in size. I don't mix the grit with their food but offer it in seperate container. I did only put it in for a short time when I did offer it as they eat alot of it to start with. Now as they have gotten older they don't consume near as much at one time.

 

[bj taylor]

i didn't offer grit until about 3 wks old when i started giving them variety in their diet. i put it in free choice. chick grit that didn't have any calcium in it.

 

[felidaet]

I put a bowl of chick grit in the brooder after they are about a week old.The eat a lot for a day or two and then they slow down. I leave it in there all of the time one I give to to them. I never sprinkle it on the food.

 

[questions543]

good information... Does any one know how much grit/oyster shell adult hens eat a day?

 

[Izzymoon]

I just put chick grit around their food dish, as I have it raised on a plastic box, and they seem to like it that way. When I offered a separate dish they spilled it over fast, wasting it

no clue on the adults I only have 5-1/2 week old chicks

 

[Chicks on DL]

They don't eat much since it is held in their crop to help break down what they eat. My girls are 5 months old and they have barely gone through 1/2 a 5 lb bag in the last 3 months. I also provide free choice crushed egg shells and that doesn't go very fast either. I started keepng egg shells before they started laying for calcium. I expect the grit to last me for the rest of the year for the 4 hens.