The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

It's ok, I'm here to learn! Let me know when I'm wrong! Lol
So do feed stores carry this granite grit?? Do I just toss some in with there food or do I lay it out seperate? Gotta learn all of this stuff!!
I'm just hoping others will jump in here and help (both of us) out. My feeding regimen is unorthodox in the extreme and I think others will certainly be able to help to get your own feeding system laid out to suit your needs.

As for the grit, I (like most, I believe) keep mine in individual containers, situated in various areas of the houses. You will likely only need one container for granite grit and one for oyster shells. My son is forever tinkering with things and has worked out a very simple and cheap container system. We're heavy coffee drinkers and those larger plastic canisters gave him something to play with. He first bolted two of them together at the wider handle area then affixed them in low traffic areas and high enough for the birds to get their heads into but low enough to where the grit is in reach to almost the bottom. They can be cleaned under easily and the birds know where they are. We keep oyster shell in one and granite grit in the other.

Just as an aside, my birds rarely use any of the oyster shells because they get ample calcium through their regular feeding but MOST people really need the OS for layers.

It would be helpful if you could name the breeds of birds and their age if possible. That will give folks something to work with in offering suggestions.

RON
 
I'm just hoping others will jump in here and help (both of us) out.  My feeding regimen is unorthodox in the extreme and I think others will certainly be able to help to get your own feeding system laid out to suit your needs.

As for the grit, I (like most, I believe) keep mine in individual containers, situated in various areas of the houses.  You will likely only need one container for granite grit and one for oyster shells.  My son is forever tinkering with things and has worked out a very simple and cheap container system.  We're heavy coffee drinkers and those larger plastic canisters gave him something to play with.  He first bolted two of them together at the wider handle area then affixed them in low traffic areas and high enough for the birds to get their heads into but low enough to where the grit is in reach to almost the bottom.  They can be cleaned under easily and the birds know where they are.  We keep oyster shell in one and granite grit in the other.

Just as an aside, my birds rarely use any of the oyster shells because they get ample calcium through their regular feeding but MOST people really need the OS for layers.

It would be helpful if you could name the breeds of birds and their age if possible.  That will give folks something to work with in offering suggestions.

RON


I provide oyster shell. And also feed back egg shells. And sometimes this red-brown pigeon mineral grit our local feed store carries. If the chooks are free ranging, gobbling up stuff off the gravel laneway etc? do I also need to provide a gravel grit?
 
400

Here is what I use for oyster sheil & grit. They are chick feeders I hang from side of my coop. They are high enough nothing gets kicked into them, stay dry & the plastic is easy to clean. Again I only have 8 hens so I don't need anything big. I also hang them so as the deep litter gets higher thru fall & winter I can move them up higher.
 
OK, I am back to searching for grit.(my girls are on all sand) Hellbender mentioned he gets a bag of granite chips. I searched all stores(homedepot, lowes, farm) here in central fla and no bags of chips except bags of small river rock. they look pretty big-can they be used? today I was in petco and thought to see what they use in aquariums. found a bag of rock-$15 for 20 lbs-do you think that can be used-looked smaller. Stopped by a kitchen place and got a small piece of leftover granite , but it is too hard to hammer to get chips. only other option is really expensive chick grit.
I don't think I said granite chips.
hu.gif
I'm pretty certain I said granite grit which can be found in almost any store that sells chicken feed and supplies.

I did say that I use 'crusher run' aka limestone chips, spread around the entrances of the houses and even in the dog kennels. The chickens will frequently pick at and even eat the smaller ones which only helps their digestion (I assume) and never seems to bother them. They might even be extracting various minerals from it....in fact...I'm sure of it!

RON
 
I don't think I said granite chips.  :confused:   I'm pretty certain I said granite grit which can be found in almost any store that sells chicken feed and supplies.

I did say that I use 'crusher run' aka limestone chips, spread around the entrances of the houses and even in the dog kennels.  The chickens will frequently pick at and even eat the smaller ones which only helps their digestion (I assume) and never seems to bother them.  They might even be extracting various minerals from it....in fact...I'm sure of it!

RON


We need a global chicken maintenance translation dictionary! Is crusher run what I would call "quarter down"? A limestone crushed to approx quarter of an inch bits?
 
I provide oyster shell. And also feed back egg shells. And sometimes this red-brown pigeon mineral grit our local feed store carries. If the chooks are free ranging, gobbling up stuff off the gravel laneway etc? do I also need to provide a gravel grit?
Again, depending upon how much land you have for range compared to the number of birds...and again...the stuff is so cheap, why chance them having a need for it. I've read horror stories on these various threads where birds where having life or death struggles, likely caused by their inability to digest feed...Peace of mind should be worth the minimal price.

RON
 
I am a rebel, I don't buy rocks, I have a yard full of dirt as far as they care to dig, that dirt has all kinds of small stones, rocks for them to use for digestion.

I do provide oyster shell free choice since I don't feed layer pellets, I would even if I did feed layer. My old shells are for my tomatoes. I dry crush, soak in vinegar dilute w/ water and water my tomatoes w/ it.
 
We need a global chicken maintenance translation dictionary! Is crusher run what I would call "quarter down"? A limestone crushed to approx quarter of an inch bits?
No...it is generally of no particular shape and is simply the waste that falls to the bottom. Some call it 'fines' and it is generally about the size or 4 to 8 (or more) grains of commercial sand. It is slate gray in color and It's used around here in places where birds or dogs could make a muddy mess. It's cheap and easy to clean.
 
No...it is generally of no particular shape and is simply the waste that falls to the bottom.  Some call it 'fines' and it is generally about the size or 4 to 8 (or more) grains of commercial sand.  It is slate gray in color and It's used around here in places where birds or dogs could make a muddy mess.  It's cheap and easy to clean.


Oh yes. It's called "fines" here too. A common language!
 
Again, depending upon how much land you have for range compared to the number of birds...and again...the stuff is so cheap, why chance them having a need for it.  I've read horror stories on these various threads where birds where having life or death struggles, likely caused by their inability to digest feed...Peace of mind should be worth the minimal price.

RON


23 acres. 10 chickens. I'm probably good right?
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom