Talk to me about grit

[sean_wonder]

Maybe a bag of sand?

Offering sand as grit is not great, it's too fine to really serve that purpose.

Your chicks live outside so they'll naturally pick up little pebbles and things as they peck around. Do you feed pellets or crumble?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

That is the Henhouse Reserve

 

[sean_wonder]

@BlindLemonChicken whaaaat no way, since when have they been including grit in feed?? Is that a crumble or pelleted formula?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

@BlindLemonChicken whaaaat no way, since when have they been including grit in feed?? Is that a crumble or pelleted formula?

Hen house Reserve is neither but it does have pellets in it.

 

[sean_wonder]

Hen house Reserve is neither but it does have pellets in it.

ah so like a mash

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

ah so like a mash

No it’s more whole grains

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

ah so like a mash

 

[sean_wonder]

No it’s more whole grains

I was taught in school that a mash feed is one which whole products can be identified in the feed

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

hmm…like sourmash for moonshine? Lol that makes sense. i always think of it like chick mash which is basically pulverized. So it’s not pulverized but it is mash.

 

[NatJ]

Every store within a 30 mile radius of me seems to be sold out of chick grit right now. I am assuming this is a side effect of everybody also rushing to get chicks. My chicks are 8.5 weeks old and now living outside.

As several other people said, they can probably pick up their own pebbles from the ground.

But if you would feel happier providing grit, buy a bag of the grit meant for adult chickens. The grit inside has a range of sizes, and your chicks are definitely big enough for the smaller pieces. Just give them a handful or two, or some in a dish, and let them pick through to choose the sizes they like. (I've seen some bags labeled "pullet grit" that are also suitable for adult chickens. Either way, it will seem like small gravel, while "chick grit" is suitable for chicks from the time they hatch and seems move like sand. Your chicks are big enough that it would be pointless to give them that now.)