providing grit

[hellchicken]

As I'm fairly new to chicken keeping, I'm still not sure of the best way to provide my mini flock of 4 with grit. they have a pen which is all dirt now so I'm wondering if they pick up enough when pecking around. I have put some grit in a bowl but they just tip it out. Is it better to add it to the layers mash which I feed them on?

 

[moetrout]

I put my grit and oyster shell in a bowl too and have no issue with them tipping it over. Maybe try a larger livestock bowl?

 

[TheBrumstead]

I just have 3 right now and tried a "no tip" bowl stolen from my rabbit... they tipped it. Now I just scatter it in their pen.

 

[AV Brahmas]

Quote:
We have a large flock and mix our own grit. Small flock I would use a commercially prepared grit like Red Cross. I generally think of this as pigeon grit. I do not offer just plain oyster shill. It is calcium carbonate primarily and not balanced. We offer grit as follows:

Take an empty bleach jug. Cut a hole in the side about halfway up large enough to accommodate a chickens head and nothing else. Put your grit in it and set it in a corner of the run. Tie a piece of twine to the handle and run it up the corner a ways. Tie it off so that the twine is tight. If the jug gets knocked it will move but not tumble over. Cheap, easy, replaceable and best of all it works!

 

[TN_BIRD]

I don't like mixing stuff. Seems they pick through and make a mess looking for the stuff they want.

I'd keep it in a separate container.

As far as keeping it from tipping over, there are several ways that can work. Tie it down, hang it, nail it to a wall, put a heavy rock in there, etc.

 

[Impress]

I put mine in a glass fish bowl in the corner of the coop, and toss some pellet feed on top occasionally just so I can be sure they know where it is. They have never tipped it, and they seem to use it when needed.

 

[gritsar]

I don't provide grit for my chickens because they free range and I know they find plenty of grit on their own.

I do provide oyster shell. I have a rabbit feeder like this mounted to a wall in each of my coops for the oyster shell: