This is my first year with chicks. They're are currently about 3 1/2 weeks old. So far they have been solely eating chick starter. I want to start giving them the occasional veggie scrap or "treat". I have already purchased chick grit. But my question is should I just leave a small bowl of grit in their cage for them to use as they please? Should I sprinkle the veggie scrap with grit? Or should I just put some grit on a small bowl next to the veggie scraps and then remove when they're done with the veggies? Or just leave it in all the time? Seems like a silly question to me but I can't seem to find a clear answer. I just want to do what is right. Help!! Thank you.
From what I've seen from my chicks so far is that they will eat anything that I feed them and they'll gorge themselves. After researching, I sprinkle a very little bit on top of their food or add a pinch or two when I add food to their food bucket. I was told that my grit bag should last for quite a while, upwards to a year. This is our first year as well. My chicks were also about 3 weeks or so when I started adding a little grit to their food. Good luck with the chickens this year!!
Sprinkling a tiny bit of grit over the treat will get your chicks started in kitting out their gizzards. After that first "taste", you may leave a container of the grit handy for them to find. I would use a heavy cat food bowl or something to that effect so they don't end up overturning it. Some of us brood on sand. This sand will have varied sizes of particles, (masonry sand) and the chicks will seek the size grit they need. Also, in lieu of store bought grit, you can dig up a clump of sod from your yard and place it in the brooder. This serves as grit and also will inoculate your chicks against local pathogens to strengthen their developing immune systems. Yes, you can expect the chicks to overdo it at first. If you make certain they have plenty of fresh water available, they will flush the excess through their systems, and no harm will come of it.
There are 3 different sizes of grit that chicks should have whilst they are growing. Go online and keyword search : Gran-i-grit PDF :. . the 2nd page of the flyer has a feeding schedule for the different sizes of grit. Best, Karen
