New Food Questions

[rosemarythyme]

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?

If they're not gorging you can just leave grit out all the time. However if they are (which they may be in this case) you will want to restrict how much they can take until they learn to control the behavior. They really only need a tiny amount once every few days, so if they're taking in more than that, I'd restrict how much grit you're putting out for the time being.

I myself offer grit from the beginning but rather than put it in a separate bowl I sprinkle a pinch on their food maybe twice a week. By the time they're old enough to graduate to a larger grit (around 6-8 weeks, depending on how big they are) I offer it in a container on the side and they seem to be able to moderate it from there.

 

[SoCal Chicken Mama]

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.


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.


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.


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

Oh, I didn't know that about the probiotics, that relieves some of my worry. I feel like I have to keep it extra clean because if they were wild, they wouldn't hang around in a 20 sq. ft area with their poop, they would poop and walk away from it. But they have to be protected until we get the bigger run built. The wood for the frame is being delivered tomorrow.

 

[Ridgerunner]

if they were wild, they wouldn't hang around in a 20 sq. ft area with their poop,

You are exactly right. Dried poop isn't much of a danger. If it is thick enough that it stays wet or the area stays wet from the weather for a few days dangerous microbes can multiply. And it can stink. When they are confined to a small area the poop can build up and may need to be managed. I did not mean to imply otherwise.

My comment was more about it being gross. Chicken poop, especially fresh poop, is gross to me. I do not want to handle it with my hands or step in it. I've seen chickens wipe their feet to clean them when they step in fresh sticky poop. On a certain level it is gross.

Maybe this story will explain it. Baby elephants live on mother's milk for a while but at some point they start eating plants. When they switch to plants they eat some of their mother's poop. That gets the right microbes in their system so they can digest that plant matter. I'd consider it gross to see that baby elephant eating poop but it is necessary for its health.

 

[SoCal Chicken Mama]

If they're not gorging you can just leave grit out all the time. However if they are (which they may be in this case) you will want to restrict how much they can take until they learn to control the behavior. They really only need a tiny amount once every few days, so if they're taking in more than that, I'd restrict how much grit you're putting out for the time being.

I myself offer grit from the beginning but rather than put it in a separate bowl I sprinkle a pinch on their food maybe twice a week. By the time they're old enough to graduate to a larger grit (around 6-8 weeks, depending on how big they are) I offer it in a container on the side and they seem to be able to moderate it from there.

Good to know, thank you, They are four weeks old tomorrow. I'll put it out every other day, and not fill the bowl. They can get grit from the sand too.

You are exactly right. Dried poop isn't much of a danger. If it is thick enough that it stays wet or the area stays wet from the weather for a few days dangerous microbes can multiply. And it can stink. When they are confined to a small area the poop can build up and may need to be managed. I did not mean to imply otherwise.

My comment was more about it being gross. Chicken poop, especially fresh poop, is gross to me. I do not want to handle it with my hands or step in it. I've seen chickens wipe their feet to clean them when they step in fresh sticky poop. On a certain level it is gross.

Maybe this story will explain it. Baby elephants live on mother's milk for a while but at some point they start eating plants. When they switch to plants they eat some of their mother's poop. That gets the right microbes in their system so they can digest that plant matter. I'd consider it gross to see that baby elephant eating poop but it is necessary for its health.

Thank you Ridgerunner! (By the way, what does that mean?) That is great information. I'm glad I am not raising baby elephants!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Thank you Ridgerunner! (By the way, what does that mean?)

I grew up in East Tennessee near Cumberland Gap. Not on a mountain but where we were was more than just a hill, more in the ridges. As a kid I ran all over those ridges. It just seemed like a good screen name.