What the GRIT lol

[rosinsk1772]

What exactly do I use for grit? I've heard rocks, and am curious do i literally buy rocks from a store

 

[Granny Hatchet]

yup, pretty much . lol if your chickens free range they usually find what they need on their own but if you keep them confined you would go to the feed store and buy grit. it is ground up into fine pieces. i give grit and calcium to all my birds, free ranged or not. put it in a separate feeder so they can eat it when they want.

 

[rosinsk1772]

Do they go through a lot of grit? Just curios what I'm looking at cost and volume wise

 

[akelley]

I have 14 adult chickens and have JUST bought my second bag of grit in 6 months. I just throw a handful out in their run once or twice a week. I do the same with oyster shell. They gobble it up while they're outside scratching around.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It isn't expensive at all. It's usually crushed granite. It's insoluble so that when it lodges in the gizzard, it will stay there till it dissolves from stomach acid while it aids the gizzard to grind feedstuffs. For chickens, there are 3 sizes. Chicks get #1 (1/16”) grit till about 3 or 4 weeks. Adolescents get #2 (3/16”) grit and birds from about 15 weeks get #3 (5/16”) grit. #2 is probably big enough for adult bantams.
There's a larger grit for adult turkeys.
Unless you only feed mash or other finely ground grain, it's best to provide some even if they have a large pen. Giving it to chicks helps develop the gizzard and may guard against pasty butt.