How to put out Grit in the coop??

[cath0617]

Where do you put Grit and what do you put it in? a dish or just on the ground?

 

[3riverschick]

Where do you put Grit and what do you put it in? a dish or just on the ground?

Hi !,

I put mine in a dish and off the ground. No need for it to be dirty if it
doesn't need to be. I use a 1/2 round 3 cup metal rabbit cup that
hangs from the wall. You could use just about anything, smile.
Best,
Karen and the Light Sussex
in western PA, USA

 

[3riverschick]

Feeding Grit, An Important Issue.

Grit is a fascinating subject. Chicks should have available the largest size grit they will eat. At this stage it would be chick grit if up to 3 weeks old. If 4 thru 7 weeks old they should get medium size (developer) grit. From 8 weeks on, they should get adult grit. Why? And why sand isn't the best grit for your chicks. Here's a research project with references I did on the Science of Grit in Poultry. Basically we feed grit to develop a strong gizzard as the birds grow. That's why it's important to fed the right size grit at the right age. The advantage for us when they are grown is that the layers will produce up to 20% more eggs. The broilers will gain more weight during the finishing off period before processing if fed mash plus hard grains and grit..
Here's the article: The Science Of Feeding Grit To Poultry
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/891051/the-science-of-feeding-grit-to-poultry ( all three posts) The little "Grit For Poultry" bibliography referenced in the above post is a particular treasure. It includes abstracts of every cite. Reading thru the abstracts is very revealing. It is keyword searchable. They explain types of grit, their proper uses. What not to use for grit and why. What sizes of grit to feed at what age and why. Use of grit in egg layers and broilers. Uses and misuses of grit, limestone, sand, oyster shell, cockle shell, etc. . Why the gizzard needs grit. The importance of the gizzard, its function and how its strength and health are tied to proper grit use. And much more. Once you read this small little book, you will never think of grit as "just any pebble" again. Try Page 48 for starters.
Best Regards,
Karen

 

[beckymrh]

Is grit necessary if the chickens are running around free?

 

[MeepBeep]

Is grit necessary if the chickens are running around free?

In this case they will be getting the grit naturally, assuming they have suitable ground to peck at in their wanderings...

 

[beckymrh]

I have a big yard with lots of trees and bushes, but clay type soil. I don't seem to have many rocks...so maybe I'll just throw some around the yard and they will come across it during the daily forage....

 

[3riverschick]

Is grit necessary if the chickens are running around free?

That just depends on how serious one is about developing a high quality gizzard in the birds.
Grit is all about sharp edges, insolubility, and correct size for the right age.
1. The sharp edged grit is more efficient in grinding up the feed in the short time it stays in the gizzard.
2. Insoluble grit does not dissolve or get the edges rounded/softened by the acid in the gizzard.
It stays the correct size.
3. The proper size for the age of the poultry helps the grit stay in the gizzard longer.

All three of these factors are found uniformly in granite grit. So we know the birds are getting a
uniform diet of the 3 factors they need to best break up their food in the gizzard. Now I am sure they
can also find these factors in pebbles and small grit they find in the fields and by-ways. The question
is, are they finding grit with all these factors or just one or 2 per piece. It does make a difference.
So when we feed grit, we are looking to the future. To production time when egg production will be
higher and when broiler weight will be heavier because we fed the grit during finishing time.
In fact, the commercial poultry grit industry in America actually developed around a specific need
the poultry growers had. They found that proper grit feeding improved their bottom line. The
growers were looking for a better way to feed grit and the grit industry was born. Gran-I-Grit
started making poultry grit in 1935.
Best,
Karen
Just an extra: http://poultrykeeper.com/general-chickens/types-of-poultry-grit
and more:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/gran-i-grit-insoluable-crushed-granite/reviews/8836
Click on the blue hot link : " Gran-I-Grit insoluable crushed granite " underneath
the pic and scroll way down the page for detailed instructions on how much and
when to feed different sizes of this grit.

 

[beckymrh]

great info! thanks!