OK, do I need to get grit?

[CowgirlPenny]

Quote:
In your location you should have a lot of granite around. It makes a difference what your soil is like, where you live. Around here the "rocks" are limestone which is soft, so I figure they need grit. In East TN I wouldn't buy grit, either.

So, are you saying I don't even need the sand? I always keep it out in a bowl but it lasts forever since they rarely peck at it. We have a lot of rock and red clay in our yard.

 

[3chimama]

I have never had to use grit because my girls pick up plenty of little rocks and such while free ranging.

 

[CowgirlPenny]

Hum, interesting. I may start reducing the amount to less and less and see how they do. Thanks

 

[txhomegrown]

I know that grit doesn't hurt anything, but chickens have been around for a long time without store bought stuff. I have sandy soil here, and mine seem to get along just fine.

 

[Junkmanme]

Quote:
SAME HERE.

I've had my chickens for a few years....never bought any grit.

I buy a 40-60 lb. bag (I forget the size) of play-sand at the Lumber-Yard and throw it in their "run".
That seems to be sufficient for them. Apparently..when they NEED "grit"...they eat some sand.

Winter has been rough on the run....I'll buy another bag of sand this week.

SIMILAR with "Calcium":
I save the egg-shells and put them in my Coffee-Bean Grinder (which I usually use to powder dried hot peppers for MY cooking.).
I put the ground-up egg shells out in a separate feeder and also put some in the feed dishes.

I don't buy Calcium or Grit.

What I do works for MY Chickens. I've never had (so far) a plugged "crop" OR thin-shelled eggs.

just what works for me,

-Junkmanme-

 

[Tala]

Sand works great, especially for chicks since it is just very finely ground rock.

I start my chicks with a sprinkle of chick grit (bought) OR sand from the driveway (very small granite and regular sand mixed) around 3ish days and I never have problems with pasty butt. Dunno if it's a coincidence or not, but my chicks are super healthy so I keep doing it.
For adult chickens I either buy them a bag of granite, or bring them small rocks from the river or if I'm really lazy just from the driveway. The only thing is that river rocks are soft and grind down faster, but they are free and essentially unlimited so that's not an issue

 

[tigercreek]

If they are getting treats and are in a brooder where they are not able to free range, they need grit. If just feeding starter, it's not needed. If they are on the ground, they will find what they need for grit. .........stan