I am confused on the whole grit situation?!

[Paige Sellars]

I understand why a chicken needs grit but i don't get if in ned to buy it or if the will find it by themselves? and do i just put it in a bowl by there food? I need help!!!

 

[Pork Pie]

If your flock ranges in your yard, then its likely that they will get all the grit they need. If they are kept in a run, then it maybe worth considering putting a separate feeder with grit in it.

Here's a link that may help -
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/891051/the-science-of-feeding-grit-to-poultry

 

[Paige Sellars]

Thank you so much!!!

 

[Pork Pie]

Thank you so much!!!

You are most welcome

 

[cmom]

I usually put some granite grit in their feeders. They will take what they want. In Florida we have mostly sand so the birds can't get a good hard grit for grinding food in their gizzards since they don't chew their feed. For my layers I also put some oyster shells in their feed. Most stones and stuff they pick up around here is too soft to grind their treats. They really don't need it if you are just feeding them chicken feed but if you are giving them any kind of grains they can use the grit. I feed my birds their regular feed but usually in the evenings when I go out to collect the eggs I give them all a little bit of a grain mixture (sunflower seeds, millet, cracked corn, oats, along with some other scratch grains).

 

[lazy gardener]

It's not recommended to put oyster shell in layer feed. OS is best offered on the side.

As CM stated, some areas simply don't have appropriate grit in the natural environment. If your area is all sand, silt, or possibly even clay without any discernible hard stones, then you should purchase grit. You can either toss it in their run, or put it in a deep dish. I have plenty of grit available in my soil, but if birds are confined to DL run, or the ground is frozen (almost 6 months of the year here) I do supply extra grit.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I feed layers pellets and offer oyster shell separately, and granite grit separately, . They choose to consume as needed. GC

 

[Patinas]

I have always offered my flock grit on the side in a separate small feeder and recently started offering oyster shell, also in a separate feeder. Since my flock free ranges part of the day, I have noticed they barely touch the grit but I leave it in the run anyway.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I have always offered my flock grit on the side in a separate small feeder and recently started offering oyster shell, also in a separate feeder. Since my flock free ranges part of the day, I have noticed they barely touch the grit but I leave it in the run anyway.

Yeah, I haven't added grit to the container since I started to let them out to free range 2 hours before sunset daily, weather permitting a couple of months ago. I have a gravelly soil.
I also offer oyster shell separately, and the last 5# bag lasted 11 months. But I also feed a layers feed, otherwise it would not last as long. GC

 

[Patinas]

@GC-Raptor

I feed mine Flock Raiser so they do go through the oyster shell pretty well but haven't had to replenish the grit since they started free ranging. I have come to trust that chickens know what they need, when they need it but I'll leave the grit in there anyway. Probably never have to buy it again!