question about grit as well!

[chicksusie]

So I've just read the last thread on this and am totally confused! Their seems to be a conflict of opinions and I don't know which is accurate! I have two chicks that are two months old and two that are about six weeks...I'm almost out of the grit started that I had and have been using regular ole' beach sand. I just went to the pet store for fish and got some Hi-cal small bird grit. IS this okay to use or not??!! Some say yes and i see others feel their's too much calcium! Can someone help please?! Also, I'm wanting to keep them in the coop full time, we"ve been bringing them in at night still. I know now that regular chicken wire isn't enough to keep some predators out, like cats and raccoons! Can a raccoon really get in a space about 4 inches? Thanks for your help! I hope to get some responses this time as the last few times I've posted I haven't heard back from anyone

 

[SIMZ]

The calcium in the grit would concern me - I wouldn't use it. Do you have a TSC, Big-R, or feed store nearby? They usually sell chick grit in small bags. Another option is to buy a bag of regular sized grit and smash it into smaller pieces.

A raccoon probably couldn't squeeze through a 4" space, although a weasel could. A raccoon could easily just rip through the chicken wire and tear through things. I've heard incredible stories of what they've ripped apart to get to chickens. Is there a secure part of the coop you can close them into at night? Hardware cloth is fairly raccoon proof if it's secured well. Maybe you could cover the 4" space with that.

Good luck!

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

If you can just dig up some dirt with little stones in it...they'll find their own grit.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

If the grit has calcium added then don't use it until they are laying, as this can damage their kidneys and bones when they don't require that calcium yet.

Sand works fine for chicks, but when they are older than 7 weeks they should have size #3 cherrystone grit (sharp granite grit) from the feed store, or be free ranging for their grit. Some people have gravel lying around everywhere....Cherrystone has a website with a pic of their grit and the measurement- if interested I can find it for you.

You don't have to feed grit if they are in a cage receiving cracked grains only and no grass or treats. They need the grit to crack whole grains and to grind their food. Size #3 grit has some smaller sizes in there too, so you would be ok to just put everyone on it (or if you feel they can find gravel in the soil in their pen, that would be fine). If they don't have adequate grit, they will not be able to digest properly unless it is a cracked grain (like commercial feed is).

Raccoons can tear apart chicken wire with their "hands" almost as if it isn't there. I am not sure about them entering a 4" space, but wouldn't be surprised.

Weasels and rats can get into a 1" space and they eat chickens. So if you want a Fort Knox coop you need to have all spaces 1/2 inch (as in 1/2 inch hardware cloth).

I choose to have a secure coop- but my run isn't predator-proof. Just the coop. I like a nice big chicken yard. An automatic coop door opener makes life MUCH easier.