Is GRIT always necessary?!

[tenderkat]

I'm just trying to get a concensus as far as grit goes and it's use in different environments.

I've had my girls for almost two years, and I've never used grit. I live in Colorado, up in the foothills. My ground is very sandy and rocky, and has alot of decomposed granite in it. When I got my chickens, I was told by someone at the local feed store, that most people up here with chickens don't need to use grit, because of the ground compostion. But, I'm wondering if maybe I should be using it anyways, just in case. My girls haven't been looking their best over the last 5-6 months, and I'm trying to rule out any nutritional deficiences. Is it possible that they aren't getting enough natural grit from the ground and are therefore unable to assimilate their feed adequately?

 

[MuranoFarms]

If your ground is covered with snow, they may not be getting enough grit. I give mine sand, they don't need commercial 'grit'. Whatever they pick up from the ground is fine.

What kind of feed do you have them on?

 

[lotzahenz]

Since grit is so cheap, you could put some out and they will only eat it if they need it. Like insurance.