New Food Questions

[SoCal Chicken Mama]

OK, my girls are 3 1/2 weeks now, and they are starting to eat things like tiny (raisin sized) tomatoes, shredded lettuce and grass. Won't touch watermelon or my prized strawberries. My they also pick little bits of diatomaceous earth out of the dust bath and seem to eat it. Haven't quite figured out the dust bath yet! My question is, should I be putting grit in their starter/grower food now? The dust bath is fine play sand, sifted compost, diatomaceous earth and some smell good herbs I just added. They seem more interested in eating it than bathing in it. I have demonstrated on one of them, and they have tried it, but don't really seem interested. The bottom of the run is coarse sand. They sometimes dig a hole in that and snuggle in, which concerns me because there is no diatomaceous earth there, and they seem to peck at it and eat that too, which is gross, because there is poop in it, except for when it has just been raked.

So add the grit to the feed, or no need?

 

[SilverBirds]

If they are eating anything but formulated feed they need grit. You can offer a small bowl of grit off to the side and they will eat what they need, but since they are outside, they're probably finding their own grit.

Chickens are dirty creatures and will eat, sleep, and dig around in their own poop. It doesn't bother them and as long as your birds aren't sick it's nothing to fret about. The DE won't really benefit your chickens in any way. It makes for a good light prevention of mites/fleas, but IMO it's not really needed if you are keeping everything clean. DE and play sand are both discouraged because the fine particles can irritate the birds delicate respiratory system. I'd remove both and give them regular dirt to bathe in or just let them dig holes wherever they want, since they will do it anyways.

 

[nuthatched]

If they have access to dirt they don't likely need grit.
Do not add d.e or sand to the dust baths for future note.
Peat moss is a great dust bath.

 

[DemeterAD9]

Offer some form of grit once you start giving them anything other than chick feed. They won't be able to properly digest the treats you've been giving them unless they have grit, luckily it sounds like they are getting some from the run they are in so no worries there IMO.

I don't add grit, instead I scoop up some dirt that has various sizes of sand/gravel/pebbles and let them use it as a dust bath and/or grit. Seems to be working fine, most often if the birds are kept in an outdoor run (or better yet free ranged) they will find appropriately sized gravel.

 

[SoCal Chicken Mama]

Thanks everyone. I made the dust bath with coarse sand and dirt (potting soil) before and they didn't like it, wouldn't go in it. They like this one better. We don't really have any native dirt here. The neighborhood was built on a chopped off mountain and graded for homes. We've dug down 4 feet and found nothing but DG. We have good compost that we make from our garbage and good soil where we let the weeds grow and the leaves fall on top, but it's not that brown "dirt" stuff. I'll put a small dish of that grit out and see if they take it.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yes they need grit (or access to substrate with appropriate sized stones) as you've been feeding them things other than processed feed. Grass in particular can be problematic if they can't break it down during the digestion process.

 

[SoCal Chicken Mama]

Yes they need grit (or access to substrate with appropriate sized stones) as you've been feeding them things other than processed feed. Grass in particular can be problematic if they can't break it down during the digestion process.

Oh, thank you, they love grass! I took the advice of someone above and offered the grit in a separate bowl, and they ate all of it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

My question is, should I be putting grit in their starter/grower food now?

How do you know how much grit they need? They know that much better than you. Do not mix it with their feed. They are probably getting enough grit from their access to the ground but there is nothing wrong with offering it separately. Whether they get it from the dirt or from what you are offering, let them manage how much. Do not mix it for them.

The dust bath is fine play sand, sifted compost, diatomaceous earth and some smell good herbs I just added. They seem more interested in eating it than bathing in it.

They will decide when and where they want to dust bathe. That might be where you offer them something or it might be in dirt. You can't control that, they can and will. It is not worth worrying about.

They sometimes dig a hole in that and snuggle in, which concerns me because there is no diatomaceous earth there

Excellent. Since before they were domesticated several thousands of year ago chickens have been pecking at dirt with no diatomaceous earth or any other special additives. Just pure natural dirt.

and they seem to peck at it and eat that too, which is gross, because there is poop in it, except for when it has just been raked.

That is how they share probiotics and develop flock immunities. It is not gross to them, it is how they stay healthier.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Oh, thank you, they love grass! I took the advice of someone above and offered the grit in a separate bowl, and they ate all of it.

How much was in the bowl? Grit gorging can also be an issue.

 

[SoCal Chicken Mama]

How much was in the bowl? Grit gorging can also be an issue.

It's teeny, tiny bowl, like you put spices in for a recipe. Max. 2 oz. That's what I offer their treats in, too. So should I offer than much every day?