Question regarding need for grit..

[father-clucker]

If we put our babies outside in a penned up area for a few hours (covered mind you to keep the cats away and whatnot) and let them peck at whatevers in the 'brown' grass, do I need to feed them some super-fine grit as well to aid in the digestion? They currently are eating the starter food that we got when we bought them a week ago.. These are about 3 week old birds or perhaps 3.5 weeks for the two largers and about one week less for the two smallers.

 

[Baymen Moe]

They need grit to process anything other than their chick food, however they may pick up what they need when you have them outside on the ground.

 

[father-clucker]

Nevermind.. In reading another post here it sounds as if they'll get enough from the dirt if the area they're in has a dirt patch and our yard qualifies for that description.. Our grass is dead and there are plenty of dirt spots in their small pen we created.. Consider this answered!

 

[jacyjones]

I gave my young ones grit as soon as they ate anything other than starter food - I guess you should if they are pecking at bits of stuff outside just to be safe.

 

[father-clucker]

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Thanks! I've not been giving them any treats yet and my kids would love to but I'm holding off until they're a bit older before we go down that path..

 

[father-clucker]

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I can always put a bowl of sand out for them.. We've got plenty of that for them to use that's clean.