What to do if chicks/ducklings have been fed veggies for several weeks without access to grit?

[Mirrium]

Just found out that people have been feeding my birds foodstuffs for the past few weeks and I'm very concerned because my Buff Orpington chicks have started losing weight.
They've been fed celery and cabbage (that they remembered) and say its fine because they feed them stuff all the time. These chicks have never had access to grit because I am their carer and I was completely unaware of the need for it.
For reference I am home with them 6 days a week at most I am out of the house for an hour a day to run errands which means they are specifically feeding them when I'm gone.
What can be done? Is it too late to give them grit? We don't have any on hand do I've just scooped up a tub of sand and small rocks for them and I'm hoping it will help until I can get some actual grit for them. Any ideas welcome

 

[coach723]

Sand won't help unless it's really, really coarse. I would get some grit asap and start making it available to them. Grit is crushed granite, depending on their age they need either chick grit which is smaller so they won't choke on it, or poultry grit which is larger pieces for larger birds.

 

[Mirrium]

Sand won't help unless it's really, really coarse. I would get some grit asap and start making it available to them. Grit is crushed granite, depending on their age they need either chick grit which is smaller so they won't choke on it, or poultry grit which is larger pieces for larger birds.

Sorry I completely forgot to mention age I'm in a bit of a panic, they are 3 weeks and 3 days old

 

[coach723]

At 3 weeks old I would definitely get the chick grit, not the adult poultry grit. Any feed store or tractor supply type store that sells poultry feed should have it. Not expensive at all. Just put it in a separate feeder for them, they will take what they need.

 

[Mirrium]

At 3 weeks old I would definitely get the chick grit, not the adult poultry grit. Any feed store or tractor supply type store that sells poultry feed should have it. Not expensive at all. Just put it in a separate feeder for them, they will take what they need.

Thank you for the info we planned to get them some but didn't think we'd need it so soon. The places near us are all closing for the night so we'll have to get some in the morning. Is there anything that can be done in the meantime?

 

[Mirrium]

This is the 2nd day in a row they've been loosing weight which is why I'm worried, I thought it might be because I changed their water which was discussed with another byc member but then I was told this evening that they've been doing it for weeks!

 

[Mirrium]

And can the ducklings eat the chick grit? Will it work for them too?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Hopefully you can make it really, really clear to your dear in-laws that it is very, VERY important for only ONE person to be in charge of feeding the sweet babies because giving them the wrong stuff or too much of anything can actually KILL them! And if they want to feed the babies they need to do it in your presence and with your approval, no exceptions, thank you very much!

 

[Mirrium]

Hopefully you can make it really, really clear to your dear in-laws that it is very, VERY important for only ONE person to be in charge of feeding the sweet babies because giving them the wrong stuff or too much of anything can actually KILL them! And if they want to feed the babies they need to do it in your presence and with your approval, no exceptions, thank you very much!

I promise you I've tried. Partner and I have decided to move because this isn't the first time important boundaries have been crossed

 

[Zenmonkey]

Inlaws actually... I don't think I'll have much standing in the family if I do

That would have been my second guess. I generally get along with mine, but I can see where that would complicate matters. I think the baseball bat and the acting crazy are still solid ideas.