Need grit for free rangers?

[Minky]

My chickens free range on our property. Im assuming they use the gravel/sand/ from our driveway, or maybe the runoff areas where there is pea gravel, river rock etc... who knows.

I have never provided separate grit. Is this bad?????????

For the chicks, I just scoop up a bowl full of dirt/sand/gravel bits and offer to them along side their chick starter...

Again, is this bad???????????

 

[Kiki]

If you free range in an area where there is something for them to pick up and use as grit then no it is not bad.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

It is not good either, or more importantly what's it going to hurt?. Not every rock makes good chicken teeth. A 50lb. sack of grit costs only fractions more than a 5lb. bag of grit and grit never goes bad or out of date. For most Back Yard Chicken owners a 50lb sack of grit will last a lifetime. The same thing is true with oyster shell.

 

[Minky]

chickengeorgeto- you make a valid point, I will get a bag. I wasnt doing it to save money- just figured that for the past 2000 years chicken farmers /homesteaders were not buying grit or oyster shell for their birds and they did just fine.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

I found when I free ranged that the chickens were attracted to the shoulder of the road. A few got hit. I'm not sure but maybe that's more likely if you don't offer grit.

 

[Minky]

Not an issue for us, the road is far far away... just us on the driveway- but a good point for others for sure.

 

[lazy gardener]

I do a combination. We live in rock country, but I have a bag of grit available for "snow season". When I have chicks, I give them a scoop of gravel which has been rain washed in my driveway.