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Roxadee said:
That is really good to know. I let my chickens free range a few times a week. Is that enough for the grits?
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It should really be daily if they're eating anything besides their crumbles/pellets, but if that's what you've been doing, it's obviously fine or you'd have had some digestion issues by now.

If you have a garden and are where the ground isn't frozen yet, and the dirt is course/grainy and not like silt, you could fill a jumbo kitty litter box with it, a sprinkle of wood ash, diatomaceous earth, or 1st Sat Lime (for mites) and put that in the coop. Then they get their dust bath and grit all in one. Ours free range, but once the snow covers the ground, they're just pecking snow after that, so that's how we take care of two issues in one.

Hiya, and welcome to BYC!! :frow
 
I just wanted to add this bit of advice. Since you have chickens, ducks, and geese, you can simplify the feed by using All-Flock feed. This way one feed takes care of all your flock. That is what I use for my flock,,, even though I just have chickens.
There are some advantages, and disadvantages. let me explain.
Calcium for laying hens is needed in about 4% range. All-Flock has 2%. I supplement, with Cracked Oyster shells, and crushed egg shells. My non laying hens only need 2%, so the Layer feed with 4% is too much calcium for them. It is also too much calcium for roosters. It does not harm them right away, but is not healthy for the kidneys, and liver. (long term)
Ducks, and not sure of geese, do need Lysine. All-Flock has that in the ingredient listing.
Now to GRIT. Yes I read GRITS,:gig :drool which I eat quite regularly. You did get good advice on keeping some free-choice. My chickens free range, and there are sufficient grit pieces in the soil they scratch in.
I do still have a large quantity of grit I used to offer to my pigeons. I will drop some into the cracked oyster shell bowl.
 
cavemanrich said:
Welcome to BYC..
On your rooster situation,,, If there is no conflict between the roosters,, then keep both. If there is,,,, Then do what you need to do. Rehoming,,,, usually means rooster becomes someone's meal. That is reality of chicken keeping.
No idea on feeding grits.. Maybe you read where they were feeding baby chicks cooked grits. This way chicks were getting hydration along with food.
Ask anything you need to know.. That is what we are here as a BYC community for. To help each other.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and :welcome
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That is amazing. I didn't know. I'm telling a friend of mine now about this site, she is like me........greeeeeeen lol, what were we thinking.

Debbie292d said:
It should really be daily if they're eating anything besides their crumbles/pellets, but if that's what you've been doing, it's obviously fine or you'd have had some digestion issues by now.

If you have a garden and are where the ground isn't frozen yet, and the dirt is course/grainy and not like silt, you could fill a jumbo kitty litter box with it, a sprinkle of wood ash, diatomaceous earth, or 1st Sat Lime (for mites) and put that in the coop. Then they get their dust bath and grit all in one. Ours free range, but once the snow covers the ground, they're just pecking snow after that, so that's how we take care of two issues in one.

Hiya, and welcome to BYC!! :frow
Click to expand...
 
Debbie292d said:
It should really be daily if they're eating anything besides their crumbles/pellets, but if that's what you've been doing, it's obviously fine or you'd have had some digestion issues by now.

If you have a garden and are where the ground isn't frozen yet, and the dirt is course/grainy and not like silt, you could fill a jumbo kitty litter box with it, a sprinkle of wood ash, diatomaceous earth, or 1st Sat Lime (for mites) and put that in the coop. Then they get their dust bath and grit all in one. Ours free range, but once the snow covers the ground, they're just pecking snow after that, so that's how we take care of two issues in one.

Hiya, and welcome to BYC!! :frow
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I can't thank you enough. I thought just now I was sending you a reply, but being new to this site, I sent it to someone else. They probably think I need help. I will absolutely get a everything you said. How do I save your comment? Do you know?
 
Roxadee said:
I can't thank you enough. I thought just now I was sending you a reply, but being new to this site, I sent it to someone else. They probably think I need help. I will absolutely get a everything you said. How do I save your comment? Do you know?
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You are so very welcome! :hugs

If you look at the upper right of a reply or post, there's a little box up there to bookmark it.

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To see your bookmarks, you just click where your username is in the top bar. When you click it, one of the tabs will be bookmarks.

1703981187148.png
 
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cavemanrich said:
I just wanted to add this bit of advice. Since you have chickens, ducks, and geese, you can simplify the feed by using All-Flock feed. This way one feed takes care of all your flock. That is what I use for my flock,,, even though I just have chickens.
There are some advantages, and disadvantages. let me explain.
Calcium for laying hens is needed in about 4% range. All-Flock has 2%. I supplement, with Cracked Oyster shells, and crushed egg shells. My non laying hens only need 2%, so the Layer feed with 4% is too much calcium for them. It is also too much calcium for roosters. It does not harm them right away, but is not healthy for the kidneys, and liver. (long term)
Ducks, and not sure of geese, do need Lysine. All-Flock has that in the ingredient listing.
Now to GRIT. Yes I read GRITS,:gig :drool which I eat quite regularly. You did get good advice on keeping some free-choice. My chickens free range, and there are sufficient grit pieces in the soil they scratch in.
I do still have a large quantity of grit I used to offer to my pigeons. I will drop some into the cracked oyster shell bowl.
Click to expand...
You have no idea how helpful you have been. I knew nothing about all this. I'm of the opinion that people shouldn't get animals unless they have some idea of how to care for them. That will teach me to shoot my mouth off.:rant I didn't know I was getting ducks. My husband comes home one day, and there are these cute little yellow balls of fluff. What to do? Keep it! That started the chain of two-legged feather friends; next thing I know, I'm surrounded. We still have to make room for everyone, but this spring we will ensure everyone has room. I feel horrible about not being knowledgeable about what they need, and I really appreciate all of your advice. Thank you, thank you
 
Roxadee said:
Oh wow! Your great!
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Awe shucks. Actually, there are hundreds here that love to help. You just caught me this time with your question about something I do that I thought might help.

None of us know everything by far, but when we do, we try to help. :love
 
Debbie292d said:
It should really be daily if they're eating anything besides their crumbles/pellets, but if that's what you've been doing, it's obviously fine or you'd have had some digestion issues by now.

If you have a garden and are where the ground isn't frozen yet, and the dirt is course/grainy and not like silt, you could fill a jumbo kitty litter box with it, a sprinkle of wood ash, diatomaceous earth, or 1st Sat Lime (for mites) and put that in the coop. Then they get their dust bath and grit all in one. Ours free range, but once the snow covers the ground, they're just pecking snow after that, so that's how we take care of two issues in one.

Hiya, and welcome to BYC!! :frow
Click to expand...
I do have a garden. I will let them out every day, then.
 

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