What to feed?

[Jesusisnumber1]

Do you need to feed chickens oyster shell and grit?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Do you need to feed chickens oyster shell and grit?

Chickens eating anything other than just commercial poultry feed need grit to properly digest their food - so grit should be available to them whether that which is naturally available to them in their environment (this will depend on your soil makeup and how much space the birds have as to whether the natural grit is sufficient and/or how quickly that supply might be exhaustied by your birds).
Oyster shell should be provided if the diet being given is not sufficient in calcium to support those birds who are actively shelling and laying eggs.
Ultimately, both oyster shell and grit are so cheap that I find it better to be safe than sorry and choose to offer both free-choice at all times to my flock.

 

[Jesusisnumber1]

Thank you. Can I spread grit on the ground for them to peck at?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Thank you. Can I spread grit on the ground for them to peck at?

You sure can - I tend to "seed" my run now and then by tossing a handful or two of grit out into it (in addition to what is in the dish inside the coop). I like having some out for them to pick up in their scratch and peck time, but given the times when weather is not really accommodating to that (ie during winter when it's under snow for weeks/months), the dish comes in handy as I continue giving non-commercial diet foods through the winter months.

 

[junebuggena]

If your birds free range, and have access to areas where they can pick up small pebbles on their own, you don't need to give them grit.

 

[Jesusisnumber1]

One more question... If their diet is mainly layer pellets and cracked corn snacks.., do they need grit?

 

[junebuggena]

They need grit to break down the cracked corn, grass, bugs, and anything else they might eat that's not pellets. If the soil on your property has bits and pieces of rocks and pebbles in it, and they have access to it, you might not need to buy grit. I have very sandy soil, so there isn't a lot of grit available in my flock's run, but I do have a gravel driveway that they scratch through to pick up pieces of grit.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Mine free range so I forgot about grit, but I do provide it in winter when the snow is covering the ground.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

One more question... If their diet is mainly layer pellets and cracked corn snacks.., do they need grit?

Layer pellet is water soluble, so does not require grit for proper digestion -- cracked corn is not and to be digested does need to be processed by grit and the gizzard.