To grit or not to grit.....

[captainmommy3]

okay my baby chicks are only 2 weeks ols right now they have been eating med. starter/grower crumbles no grit yet at all they seem fine and eat and poop often but i read somewhere that they should be given grit too which seems to conflict with what my local farm supply store tld me they said to offer a small amount of grit starting at age 8 weeks but when i had asked them if they had ANY vaccines before being shipped they didnt know at all so i am unsure if they r really informed or if they just told me something off the tops of their heads.

 

[Happy Chooks]

If they are only eating chick starter, they do not need grit. Once they start on scraps is when they need it. I have never offered my chickens grit, but we have lots of pebbles around naturally.

 

[felidaet]

I put chick grit in my brooder after I have had the chicks at least a week. This means the chicks are at least 1 1/2 weeks old. I then start giving them small amounts of treats the next day. I out the chick grit in a small container and leave it in the brooder 24 x 7. I don't switch to regular size grit until they are about 12 weeks old.