sand okay as chick grit?

[NuthatchKnollChickens]

My local TSC is no longer carrying chick grit for some reason, and my Agway never did. I'd like to start giving my chicks some greens for treats and entertainment... do you think I could just give them some play sand or should I see if I can order some chick grit? As long as the sand is fine enough, I thought it might be an acceptable substitute. Any important consideration I'm missing here?

 

[jhm47]

First of all, if you are feeding chick starter crumbles, you do not need grit. Greens do not make grit necessary either, so until you begin feeding really hard, whole grains (corn, sorghum, hard millet, or something similar), you won't need to worry about grit. Good luck!

 

[NuthatchKnollChickens]

Huh -- I had read on this board that once you started giving them anything other than crumbles you should give grit.

If I were to give grit... what do you think abut substituting small grain sand for purchased "chick grit"?

 

[zippy11455]

Agway in Ithaca has chick grit. I just bought some there last week. I have 2 EE (purchased as day old chicks from Agway) that are now 8 wks old. They seem to think the grit is candy. The rest of mine pretty much ignore the chick grit.

 

[Turtle]

I gave my chicks sand and small creek gravel and they are doing great and I do treat them to scratch once or twice a week. Havent had a problem and I have been doing that for well over a month

 

[Backyard Hencam]

I too have been wondering if sand is considered "grit" for chickens. We have lots of beach sand near us. I wonder if the salt in it would effect the chickens.

 

[annek]

I have heard of people giving parakeet grit also. I don't think I would use beach sand if salty. Maybe rinsed off and dried?

 

[BluegrassSeramas]

If you can look at pet stores for grit....you can only get a little box though....

 

[kingmt]

Sand is grit but beach sand & play sand is very fine. It would probably still do the job but they would have to pass more of it. Try to find cores sand from gravel yard or creek.

I'm not sure on the beach sand it my have to much salt.

 

[NotTheMomma]

I have a sand pit for the birds to dust bath in, and I'm always seeing one eating a few bites. My oldest are 10 weeks, and youngest about 4 weeks. They have grit, but seem to like the sand as well. So I don't think it would hurt them at all.