Providing Grit

[roostercluck]

I have one rooster and five hens that are 16 weeks old. Do I need to provide grit for them?

 

[Judy]

They need grit to grind their food; it takes the place of teeth, in the gizzard. I put grit out but my chickens ignore it. Evidently they get all the grit they need from the ground. I guess it depends on what your soil is like. We have limestone and sand in our dirt, which I wouldn't think would be hard enough, but.... I suspect they also use the oyster shell as grit.