Nongranite grit

[chickme]

I was wondering if anyone has experience with grit that is NOT granite.

I ask because I am using chickens as tillers and also want to compost their litter. My soil already has excessive potassium, so I want to avoid adding too much more. Granite meal is about 5% potassium, so I assume that granite grit (while coarser) would have something like the same potassium content.

Tho maybe it doesn't matter, if they don't eat that much of it... How much grit will a couple of dozen chickens go through in a year?

Any thoughts?

Many thanks,
chickme

 

[Judy]

If they can get enough grit for grinding from their soil, they may not eat much if any store bought grit. I don't buy more than one small bag in a year. Free ranging chickens often don't.

 

[pdirt]

That's a good question as far as will granite grit add much to your soil potassium issue. I'm not a soil expert, but my best guess is probably not.

And yes, if they free range, they should be able to find enough of their own grit. I do offer (granite) grit for our girls and they eat more during the confinement of winter and less during free-ranging summers, but I probably go through 10-15 pounds of grit per year for 20 chickens. My hunch is they still eat some during summer because of habit...I mean, why bother digging for grit when someone has set out a nice dish full of it for you?

You should be able to find non-granite grit, but you might have to search a bit to find it commercially.

 

[chickme]

What about sand? Is there some specific size that the particles of grit have to be?

 

[Percheron chick]

Sand won't do much for adult chickens. Will they free range? I've never provided grit but mine free range daily.

 

[pdirt]

Sand is too small for adult chickens. The best thing to do is to just buy some chicken grit from a feed store and then you will have an idea of the size you are looking for. If you have a rock quarry nearby, they may be willing to let you take a shovel-full or two of stuff that is close to the size you bought. Chickens will pick out the appropriate sizes they need for digestion.

If you have a gravel-bottomed creek or river nearby, you might also be able to scoop some of that up. Much of it will be too big or small, but again, they will pick out what they need.

 

[chickme]

Thanks, everyone. They will free range, so they probably won't need much. Will buy some granite grit and go from there.