Play sand or contractor sand as chick grit?

[froghollowfarm2]

Our chicks are almost four weeks, and we have not given them grit. A few of them may have had an insect or two when they were out in their new play pen, but other than that they only eat chick starter.
I realize I should give them grit if I take them out again, if they eat more insects. Can anyone advice if I should get contractor sand or play sand? The grit they sell in the local feed store is for 8 weeks or older.
Does play sand or contractor sand have to be washed if it's new? We have old play sand that was used in a sand box. Would that have to be washed?
Thanks

 

[daryl]

yes just buy the stuff for 8week olds and smash it with a hammer so it it smaller ,use a larger hammer and smash a fist full at a time,cover with somthing so it does not fly all over,safty goggles is a good idea also,I works great I have done it.

 

[cafarmgirl]

Can also just use parakeet grit from the pet store or Walmart.

 

[Freyja]

Quote:
This is the only parakeet grit I can find locally. It is called Hi-Cal grit and is high calcium grit (between 17.5 - 21%). Is this ok? I was a bit leery of the high calcium so didn't buy it.

 

[cmom]

I agree with the other posts. If you have a Tractor Supply store in your area they might carry chick grit. Mine does. I would NOT give them high calcium grit. They do not need any grit until they are eating other things besides their Started feed. When I do give them grit, I give it to them in a dish as free choice and they will take what they want or need.

 

[darkmatter]

Quote:
A handful of sand from the local creek, washed, has always worked for me. I also toss in a handful of clover/grass daily to the chicks---they eat the "greens" before eating the commercial feed.

 

[SportTees]

Small gravel works to. Mine are on an old dog lot that still has allot of small gravel and they prefer it to the grit from TSC

 

[cmom]

A chicken's food goes, as is, into the crop, where it is slowly funneled into a very small " stomach" for some digestive additives--then to the Gizzard, where it is 'chewed', that is, ground into material that can be digested as it moves into the intestines and so on. The Gizzard is best able to break down whole grains and other chunky bits that they eat when full of grit. Longest lasting grit is Granite, that lasts well. Chick grit is fine Granite, as soon as they are given anything besides Starter Crumbles. All other rock and stone is so much softer, that it wears down fast and that is why granite grit is best choice, works really well for best utilization of feeds. My baby chicks are given free choice chick grit and they choose it with pleasure, Their tiny gizzards are at optimum function at an early age. The others will work too.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Quote:
I use contractor's sand that was piled outside and have no problems. It had been rained on so I guess it had been washed. If you take it straight from the bag it could be a bit dusty. It won't hurt anything to rinse the dust off, but I would not expect any problems with using it straight from the bag. I certainly would not worry about the sand from the sand box.

Granite is a long lasting rock when used for grit, but chickens have been existing for thousands of years using what ever rock and sand is locally available to them as grit. If the native rock is softer than granite, they'll just eat more of it. Free sand is cheaper than purchased grit and also works. Purely personal choice but I am cheap with some things.

 

[cafarmgirl]

You are right not to use the "high calcium" pet bird grit if that's all that's available and I should have mentioned that in my post. Good catch.