ten day old chicks. do they need grit yet

[Twigs]

hi,

does anyone know at what age they need grit.
feeding them chick crumbs at the moment

Many thanks

 

[TwoCrows]

Grit serves to grind up food in the gizzard that is not water soluable. Chick starter disolves in water so you do not need to offer them grit. But once you start feeding treats like seeds and such, they will need grit.

 

[dawg53]

I sprinkle parakeet grit around the brooder at about 7-10 days after their birth.

 

[Twigs]

thanks, that has been very helpful.

 

[chickenbaguette]

They won't need it yet but soon you could start them on chick grit. As soon as you start feeding them grain they will need full-size grit, at about four weeks old. If you're feeding them anything other than starter you should sprinkle some chick grit on their food, as if it was salt, but not too much or they'll fill up on it instead of food.

 

[Lucysmom002]

I agree that the chicks do need grit. Read up on here about "sour crop" and "crop impaction". My vet says they need FINE grit or parakeet grit whether they eat mash or not.