When do they get grit?

[annaraven]

Okay - when do I start giving them grit? They're eating chick starter now and are about 12 days old...

 

[Raven81]

im not sure when they should get grit but mine are 9 wks old & i give them fine sand to help break up the food. im thinking ( & tell me if im wrong ) i should give them grit from 15 weeks onwards.

 

[Rainwolf]

depending on your feed it might have grit in it.

 

[Judy]

As soon as you give something that they need grit to grind up. Mine are hen raised outdoors so need some sort of grit from the beginning, though I trust they get what they need at that size from the sand in the soil. I can buy "chick" and "chicken" grit, the former being smaller and for younger chicks. If yours are in a house brooder and get only chick feed and a few soft treats, they don't need it now, as there is a bit of grit in chick feed.

 

[HorizonSon]

I am raising mine outside; since about 45 minutes after I got home with them (hatchery), they have been outside in their brooder. I have been giving them "chick grit" since the second day I have jade them (4~5 days old at that point. They eat grass, weeds, bugs, worms, you name it ;-)