Very much a chicken newbie...Questions about offering grit: My 3 chickies are just over 1 week old and eating FRM medicated chicken starter crumbles. This afternoon we had a beautiful Florida day and the whole family was outside, with chickies in a tractor for their first time foraging. I understand that while they are only on starter crumbles they do not need grit (correct?), but when do they need to start grit if foraging outside? The weather is very warm so plan on being out there in a chicken tractor a few hours a day on most days of the week. Because of predators don't plan on letting them free range until much much larger. Also our yard doesn't have many pebbles/gravel (supper sandy FL soil) so want to make sure they get all the grit action they need . Today purchased Manna Pro Poultry Grit (just because I was in town and figured i'd grab it) but the directions say "provide to poultry fed scratch or other coarse grains beginning at 8 weeks of age". Did I get the wrong kind? Thanks!!!!
They should get enough grit from the sand when they are outside, but if you will feel better, buy a bag or chick grit or parakeet grit and lightly "salt" their feed with it. They can go on regular poultry grit when they get bigger. Remember to add oyster shell as well if their layer ration doesn't include it. I'm assuming you are raising laying hens.
As I understand it, chicks need food with a higher level of protein than do roosters or hens. I see roughly 5 kinds of food available. Starter with 24% protein Starter/grower with 20% protein Grower/finsher with 15% protein then for laying hens, Layer with 16% protein which has added calcium for the egg shells and Scratch grains 8.5% protein which are primarily for roosters. Chicks should be using the starter or starter/grower until the 8th---9th week, then switched to grower/finisher until the 18th week, then laying hens would be put on the Layer food. (the above percentages are for Dumor brand, YMMV)
Yup, they are laying hens. Can a chick (or full grown hen) overdose on grit, or do they pass what they don't need? Thanks so much for the help!!
OK, I'm confused and don't want to confuse anyone else, but I'm sure I read that Oyster Shell was a source of calcium and that chicks/pullets should NOT be given calcium until they were old enough to start laying, Actually, I thought I read that parakeet grit also had calcium, but I'm also sure I read many peeps saying they gave their chick parakeet grit. Guess I'm off to do more research.
I just got "chick grit" (at TSC). I "salt" their food with it and sprinkle it around the feeder where they scratch a lot. I don't think they can overdose on it, but you are supposed to wait to give it to them until they know their food (so they don't just eat grit). Grit just helps them digest and grid their food in the gizzard (before it goes to the stomach?).
