I have noticed

[Dr.GarryTTucker]

i noticed two things they are interesting.
1) my hens are 17-18 weeks old, they just started laying 2 weeks ago and they don’t really eat oyster shells. They will look at them but walk off.
2) they love to eat fresh grass, but they won’t touch grit, no matter the size of it. Should I worry? On either of them?

My meat birds love grit, if I leave it in the pin for them free choice they will eat it all. So I only put a little in there. They are 6 weeks old.

 

[True Patriot]

Probably no need to be concerned.
1) what feed do you give? Layer feeds usually have calcium. If they don't need extra they'll most likely ignore the oyster shell.
2)Do they free range? They may be picking up the grit they need from the yard.
I would continue offering both, free choice. Just to be on the safe side.

 

[Dr.GarryTTucker]

Umm it’s a layer crumble but it doesn’t say it has calcium.
They are free range, but we have sand. No rocks. We live close to a river bottom. I still have them free choice.
What about the meat birds? Keep taking the grit away?

 

[GC-Raptor]

Umm it’s a layer crumble but it doesn’t say it has calcium.
They are free range, but we have sand. No rocks. We live close to a river bottom. I still have them free choice.
What about the meat birds? Keep taking the grit away?

All Layers feed has Calcium, usually 3.25 to 4.5%. They will consume little Oyster Shells when fed Layers feed, around a pound per hen a year.
Meat birds after 2 weeks are Fed 12 hours a day. When you remove feed, remove grit. GC

 

[Dr.GarryTTucker]

All Layers feed has Calcium, usually 3.25 to 4.5%. They will consume little Oyster Shells when fed Layers feed, around a pound per hen a year.
Meat birds after 2 weeks are Fed 12 hours a day. When you remove feed, remove grit. GC

I remove feed at 12 hours but they continue eating grass till dark.
Even if they are eating tons of grit, keep it out there?

 

[GC-Raptor]

I remove feed at 12 hours but they continue eating grass till dark.
Even if they are eating tons of grit, keep it out there?

Granite grit last a long time in the Gizzard . Remove the Grit when you remove the feed. Is your feeder big enough for all birds to eat at the same time? Maybe get another feeder?GC

 

[Dr.GarryTTucker]

My feeder is 4ft 8in long and 4 inches wide. 22 birds feed from it. Feed will stay in it till about 3pm when they finish it. But they will go through about 1.5 cups of grit a day. If I put more they would eat more.

 

[GC-Raptor]

But they will go through about 1.5 cups of grit a day.

You're using chick grit I would guess. Chick Grit consumption was crazy. But slowed considerably when I started mixing in the Poultry Grit after 7 weeks.
I never had more than 6 birds. So I can't say if that's excessive. But if they are doing well, then I think you should keep doing what you're doing. GC

 

[Dr.GarryTTucker]

Thanks GC!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Umm it’s a layer crumble but it doesn’t say it has calcium.
They are free range, but we have sand. No rocks. We live close to a river bottom. I still have them free choice.
What about the meat birds? Keep taking the grit away?

ALL feed contains calcium, layer feed just has 4 times the calcium of other feeds.
All guaranteed analysis tags list the min/max % of calcium as well as phosphorus, crude protein, lysine, methionine, fat, fiber, sodium, salt and sometimes other assayed nutrients.
The ingredient list on the same tag will show what the calcium source of the feed is. You should become very familiar with reading the tag and do so along with finding the mill date before buying any feed.
After 3 weeks, chick grit serves no useful purpose and is lodge in the gizzard which may be why they are consuming so much. At 8 weeks, your meat birds should have adult grit(#3 size).