Small stones for the Chickens Digestion.

[eeiko321]

hi guys

a quick question....

ive read in a few books before about providing chicken with small stones for them to eat.
which apparently is a MUST, due to them not having teeth, so this in turn helps them grind the food down.

to be honest i dont think my chickens actually need it? as in, my chickens have actually survived withought them...

ive tried a number of times but they never seem to eat it, they ignore it.
so i kinda gave up in trying with the stones......but i thought id ask this question since its always on the back of my head.

thanks guys

 

[msgenie516]

Hi,

Actually, you're supposed to give them grit, which is much finer than most small stones. If your chickens free range, they probably have found enough things outside that help them digest, I think even sand helps. Mine don't free range, so I have to give them grit. Hope this helps! Genie

 

[allisojo]

I live in the desert, and my girls have a big run. I gave them grit for a while and they didn't touch it. They're getting plenty of little stones from the ground. Try putting a little bowl of grit (granite, not oyster shell) out for them and see if they eat it. If they do, great. If not, they're prolly getting what they need elsewhere. Just my $0.02. Thanks.

 

[39jdeere]

Hello
All poultry need grit, for there giz. its an aid to the digestive
system .You may not think they are taking it but they are
they only take as needed.
most all your feed mills sell grit. alot of it is cherry stone
that is ground granite. set a bowl ,or throw some in there run
they'll find it

 

[sandypaws]

find a sand wash (or sandy bottom of a crick) somewhere and get a big bucketful put it in the coop/run... they will take it from there...

i live in the desert too... they just scratch around and pick up what they need from the yard, i dont "supply" it