new chicks and grit

[aafairchild]

Hi All,

I am confused. I bought a bag of grit today, but it says for chicks 8 weeks and up. My babies are 3 weeks tomorrow. They are eating very finely ground chick starter although I gave them some lettuce today for a treat. Can they go without grit for 5 more weeks without grit? If not what are my options? I also put them outside in a playpen for a bit to play and peck at the ground.

Thanks a bunch, I have already learned so much here.

Alice

 

[leadwolf1]

If they are going outside and eating lettuce, they need grit. Since the people bagging and selling the chick grit think that most people keep their babies in a brooder for 8 weeks, they put that age on the bag. Give them the grit. It won't hurt them and if they are eating other things that aren't water soluble, they need that grit to digest.

 

[chfite]

You could provide a bowl of soil from the yard. Grit is just what they would otherwise pick up in their foraging rounds.

Chris