sand in chick feed to prevent pasty butt

[yomama]

I had read on here that someone puts a little playsand in their chicks starter feed, and it keeps them from getting pasty butt. I plan on getting some chicks for the first time in a few weeks,( I have hens, but have never raised chicks before), and was wondering what others thought of this. I know that chickens need gravel or grit to grind up food, but I am a little concerned that the sand might cause blockage? It sounds like the person that does this has great results, though.

Thanks!

 

[Maggies Pop]

I had a couple chicks over the weekend with pasty butt. When I came here for advice someone told me to get some oatmeal and grind it up (not the instant kind) into powder. I did that and it helped 100%. I dont know about sand, but I know the oatmeal was helpful.

 

[yomama]

Is the oatmeal something I could do as a preventative? or just when they come down with pasty butt?

 

[crooked stripe]

I can't answer the question about sand but my feed guy stopped selling Purina feeds and picked up the Pen Pals feed. That was 1 1/2 years ago and I have raised many chicks since. No pasty butt. The poo is much drier and looks some what like rabbit pellets. The only time things are a little runny is the first couple days till the yoke sack dissolves.

 

[Maggies Pop]

yomama, I am not sure. I am new to pasty butt

Hopefully someone will see this and can answer.