New with a ? About grit and chicks

[Mskayladog]

Yesterday I took my 2 week old chicks out side for the first time. I stayed with them and watched them and they were eating little flying nits and one found an ant and they fought over it, they were also eating the grass. Do I need to add some grit to their diet since they are eating bugs when outside?
Also I gave them a little play sand outside to play in and they were eating it so I took it away, will the sand eating hurt them.
Thanks for this site it's very informative .

6 red sex links
2 blue chicks with dark blue legs my guess ameraucanas

 

[RonC]

Yes they will need grit if eating bugs and grass. They will naturally pick grit out of the sand or you can buy some. The sand shouldn't hurt them unless they eat enough to get an impacted crop. If they were just pecking at the sand I wouldn't worry, just picking grit out of it.