Undigested Grass in Chick Poop

[Sunshine009]

I’ve been letting my chicks out on longer and longer “field trips” outside as they are approaching 8 weeks (still too cold at night for staying outdoors permanently). But I’m starting to find that when I clean their brooder, their poops contain a lot of undigested grass. They otherwise seem perfectly healthy, playful etc... eating and drinking fine. Should I be concerned? What can I do to help?
Thanks!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

You should be providing #2 or #3 grit so they can grind it up in their gizzards. 8 weeks is about the time to switch to the #3 adult grit.
You can put it in a separate container or put a pile on the ground where they can find it.

At 8 weeks, they're ready to be outside around the clock unless you are near the arctic circle.

 

[lazy gardener]

Have you given them grit? If not, that's your first need. As for the chicks being 8 weeks old, and not old enough to move out to coop and run...

My chicks are brooded in an outdoor coop with a MHP (heating pad cave) for heat source. They move into the outdoor coop between 2 and 7 days of age, with night time temps going down to 20's. The only heat in the coop is that which is directly under the foot print covered by the MHP. By 3 weeks of age, they are coming and going from the closed in loft of the coop to the lower level run of the coop, flitting around like a bunch of parakeets. They wean themselves off heat completely by the time they are 4 - 5 weeks old, with night time temps usually in 30's, though an occasional night with temps in 20's happens. Your chicks are definitely old enough to be living outside.

 

[Sunshine009]

Thanks for the help everyone. I guess them still being inside st night is just a case of me being a nervous mother. I’ll work on finishing up repairs on the coop and getting them out permanently.
I’ll look into better grit that I’m giving them too- but I’ve struggled a lot trying to figure out what to give them. There’s nowhere near me that’s offers commercial chicken grit. They aren’t ready for the calcium in parakeet grit. And I can’t seem to find anything on what coarseness/quality to look for when shopping at homemade hardware centres. Any tips would be super helpful.

 

[rosemarythyme]

You can order grit off places like Amazon, if buying locally isn't an option.

 

[Sunshine009]

@rosemarythyme i tried. There’s one brand that ships after 30 Dayan and another that costs $60 for 5lbs.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Are you not in the US? Your location isn't listed so I just assumed you were...

Every type of grit I see on Amazon is free shipping (some with a certain minimum purchase) in the US:

https://www.amazon.com/Manna-Pro-Poultry-Grit-Probiotics/dp/B01N5HJ4JM

https://www.amazon.com/Layer-Grit-Chickens-Ducks-7lbs/dp/B014RY43Q6

https://www.amazon.com/Land-OLakes-Purina-0044570-Supplement/dp/B00AOJOCEC

 

[Henrybelle]

Do you still need to supply grit if you pullets or chickens free range? All purpose sand has good variety size grain that I use in the coop and doubles as grit. You can find at hardware stores

 

[Sunshine009]

@rosemarythyme Yeah, I'm from Canada. I can only order from amazon.ca. If you try that site you'll see what I'm dealing with.

@Henrybelle I thought I wouldn't need to, but I guess they aren't getting enough sand in the soil to grass they're eating. But I'll give your suggestion a shot.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Sand isn't of sufficient size to serve as grit for mature fowl or even chicks above 8 weeks of age.
There should be sharp, insoluble stones about 5/8" across that can lodge in the gizzard to have a use as grit.