Pine Shavings = Grit?

[jenkassai]

I think my chicks are ready to be done with the paper towels. Everyone is eating regularly from the feeder. My worry is that they will eat the pine shavings, I have not given them grit. Do I need to put grit out if they are on the pine shavings?

Thx!

 

[naughtyhens]

Shavings are for absorbency and footing. Grit is for grinding of food as chickens can't chew. I've heard that if you give them treats in addition to chick starter you should give them some grit. Personally I believe in a little sandbox for chicks from the beginning no matter what you're using for bedding. In nature they would be pecking in the dirt right away. They will peck at the pine shavings but soon realize they are not food.

 

[turbodog]

As soon as I put mine in the brooder with pine shavings....they commenced to eat shavings.
Silly things. They've prettty much figured out it's not food but that doesn't stop them from pecking up tiny bits. Hasn't seemed to hurt them any but then, since I have given them little grasshoppers from the yard as treats, I went ahead and give them a bowl of sand to go with them. I don't think grit (sand) will hurt and might help as far as shavings go.

 

[Nicole01]

The grit will help break up the shavings. I gave grit to my chicks right away.