Question concerning GRIT

[AccioSarah]

Hello! I'm Sarah, and new to the backyard chicken world. My family just got our four babies yesterday, and they seem to be doing well (besides the constant cleaning of their behinds to avoid pasty butt issues, but that's for another topic).

My question is about grit. Yesterday, I sprinkled some on top of their food like I was told to do by a "How to raise baby chicks" book. But I'm concerned about them not getting enough, or to much.

Should I give them some of top of their food everyday? Twice a day?
Or could I just leave some in a smaller dish to the side, and hope they figure it out?

I look forward to the responses, hope someone can help me out!
Sarah

 

[Supermommy486]

I believe you could put it in a dish by its self, Then they could take what they need and you don't need to worry about giving them enough. How old are they?

 

[fastpat]

If you're feeding a commercial chick starter to them they don't need grit, it's formulated that way. It's only if you begin to feed them "adult" food, such as meal worms, moths, and other bugs that they'll need to grit up.

 

[GermanChick]

As long as they eat only their chick crumbles they don't need grit. As soon as you start giving them treats I would just put a bowl of grit in the brooder, they will figure it out.

 

[sommrluv]

That's a good question. When I put grit out, they eat it ALL. So I've only been giving them a teaspoon or so every other day. I'm sure they are spilling some, but they've been eating bugs, grass, eggs, and oats from the hay, so I think they do need some.

Can the grit hurt them?

 

[ScoobyRoo]

I agree with Jenna. Put some in a dish by itself. I really didn't give them any grit till they went outside and started free ranging and eating other food beside thier crumbles. I'm sure others with more knowledge will chime in.

BTW

. You will learn a lot here and receive many, many different opinions. Just go with what works for you.

again

from Kansas!

 

[fastpat]

Quote:
No, the grit won't hurt them directly, but they can eat only the grit and in a worst case would starve to death with their crops and digestive tract full of nothing but grit.

My chicks will be 4 weeks old Sunday, I'm thinking about putting a pan full of dirt with grit mixed in it, in one end of the brooder.

 

[MaKettle]

I was also wondering about this. My chicks are 4 weeks old & eat treats (raw oats, boiled eggs, mealworms & some lettuce). I bought a bag of grit but it says not to give it to chickens until they are 8 weeks old. Maybe I'll put it in a dish...they don't seem interested in anything new unless I hand feed it to them first!

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

I offer my incubator hatched chicks sand on day 3 - which is the day my broody moms are usually out and about in the yard with their chicks.

Sand is free for me - live in the desert - but you can use sand purchased for just about anything - does not need to be fine, grit sized is good. I offer it to them in a plastic container - the chicks love, love to bathe in the sand, peck and scratch thru it. Then once they have the sand/grit I do not have to worry about what they might eat or the scare of accidentally eating some shavings. Grit is needed in the gizzard for grinding food.

 

[AccioSarah]

Thanks to all who posted! So far the only treat they've had was some garlic, but I won't give them anymore until we start giving them treats again. Thanks!!