Oyster shell even in sand litter coop?

[Steph on the Farm]

Hey there, I did some searches but couldn't quite find any exact answer that I'm looking for.

I plan to have sand for litter both in the coop and run, which obviously should eliminate the need for buying separate grit. My issue, however, is with the absence of calcium. I will be making a blend of whole seed and grain feed for my layers that would typically contain oyster shell for grit. I guess it's not a problem if they end up mostly using the shell for their grit, rather than so much of the granite in the sand if I do still include it with their feed. But I'm wondering if anyone out there in BYC who uses SAND in their space still supplements with oyster for the calcium benefit?? Or would I be okay without it and see what happens? Is there something else that is a good calcium supplement, since I'll have to find some selenium-rich something also?

Or am I just overthinking...which is entirely possible...

Thanks!

 

[Birds of a Feather]

Oyster shell isn’t grit, and sand doesn’t supply calcium.

 

[SueT]

X2, and btw, sand isn't grit either. It's too fine, even for chicks. It will just pass right thru them.

 

[Al Capon]

I will be making a blend of whole seed and grain feed for my layers that would typically contain oyster shell for grit.

Where did you find your "blend" recipe.?

 

[Steph on the Farm]

Oyster shell isn’t grit, and sand doesn’t supply calcium.

Yes, I'm aware that sand doesn't supply calcium...but thank you for clarifying the oyster/grit situation. I swear the lady I read about who uses it said she uses it for grit, but I could be mistaken.

X2, and btw, sand isn't grit either. It's too fine, even for chicks. It will just pass right thru them.

In my post, I said the granite that is in the sand for the grit. Sorry if it wasn't clear.

 

[R2elk]

Hey there, I did some searches but couldn't quite find any exact answer that I'm looking for.

I plan to have sand for litter both in the coop and run, which obviously should eliminate the need for buying separate grit. My issue, however, is with the absence of calcium. I will be making a blend of whole seed and grain feed for my layers that would typically contain oyster shell for grit. I guess it's not a problem if they end up mostly using the shell for their grit, rather than so much of the granite in the sand if I do still include it with their feed. But I'm wondering if anyone out there in BYC who uses SAND in their space still supplements with oyster for the calcium benefit?? Or would I be okay without it and see what happens? Is there something else that is a good calcium supplement, since I'll have to find some selenium-rich something also?

Or am I just overthinking...which is entirely possible...

Thanks!

Depending on the the grain size, sand may or may not be suitable as grit. I live on a sand dune so my coop floors and the basis for the run is sand. It is blow sand that has accumulated over many years and is not a sorted, washed, bought sand. It does contain particles that are large enough to serve as grit even for my adult turkeys whose gizzards when processed will contain sizes as large as small pebbles. Bought sand is not likely to have particles large enough to serve as grit.

I am aware that some unethical companies refer to oyster shell as grit when they grind it up just as they refer to ground limestone as grit. Neither serves the purpose of grit.

Oyster shell is better supplied free choice rather than mixed in with the feed as a source of calcium.

 

[getaclue]

There is chick grit, and the bigger grit for adult chickens. Every couple months or so, put in a little pile of grit for them. It's not expensive, and a bag of it lasts quite awhile. Yes, do that even if your coop has a sandy floor. Oyster shell serves as a calcium supplement, there should always be a little available to layers, free choice. They won't eat much, but there are times they need a little extra calcium, so they'll eat a little of it. Grit, and Oyster Shell serve two completely different purposes.

 

[Steph on the Farm]

Where did you find your "blend" recipe.?

I found it on a homesteading blog; she started making her own mix and tweaking it based on protein content, etc to boost egg flavor vs using the commercial feed (which has corn and soy, typically) and it sounded like something I wanted to try, since I have the space and a mill nearby. I wrote down the "recipe" but don't have the site, sorry.

 

[Steph on the Farm]

Depending on the the grain size, sand may or may not be suitable as grit. I live on a sand dune so my coop floors and the basis for the run is sand. It is blow sand that has accumulated over many years and is not a sorted, washed, bought sand. It does contain particles that are large enough to serve as grit even for my adult turkeys whose gizzards when processed will contain sizes as large as small pebbles. Bought sand is not likely to have particles large enough to serve as grit.

I am aware that some unethical companies refer to oyster shell as grit when they grind it up just as they refer to ground limestone as grit. Neither serves the purpose of grit.

Oyster shell is better supplied free choice rather than mixed in with the feed as a source of calcium.

Thank you. Our quarries here offer some that is a "construction: texture that contains a variety of sizes and includes granite and whatnot, not just sand. I spent the entire day yesterday looking into which sand would be best for us and my babes. I know a lot of people use play sand but I'm not going to for various reasons.

 

[SueT]

In my post, I said the granite that is in the sand for the grit. .

As others have said, it will work if the particles are as big as in store bought grit. But granite or not, if too fine, it won't serve.