When to add grit to chick feed?

[muffinmom]

The main reason I give my new chicks clean sand from the start is because it stops the pasty bums, and they love to play in it.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:

Tami

Oyster shell is for laying hens, to provide supplemental calcium. As it does break down significantly when wet, it makes a poor substitute for grit. In addition, chicks don't need and shouldn't have supplemental calcium.

 

[CircleC]

My 1-2 week old chicks LOVE meal worms. They go NUTZ!

 

[Hwlchickmama]

i read in one of the many "mommy to be" books that bugs and worms too early can subject the babies to parasites they cant handle... the "farm kid" at the pet store agreed but convinced me to get red wigglers and meal worms (farmed parasite free). it took some time for my 2week old girls to figure out what to do with them (one or 2 at a time/a day). at the same time i began giving them sand in an upside down frizbee they eat it play in it poo in it drag the frizbee around. Now they are 6 weeks old and love snacks of watermelon cheerio's rice crispies and the worms!! some nights i give them little scraps of whatever veggie im making with dinner just for fun found they dont like any thing green or bitter, bananas and yogurt didnt go over well either... i hope im not spoiling them!! GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[chickmchickie]

Quote:

Tami

Oyster shell is for laying hens, to provide supplemental calcium. As it does break down significantly when wet, it makes a poor substitute for grit. In addition, chicks don't need and shouldn't have supplemental calcium.

Mine are all layers.. the shells wont get wet, and i do have a drive way that they can pick up some too.. but maybe i wont use it.. thank you for the welcome, its really nice that some of you all talk to me.. feeling like an outsider isnt fun..
thanks again you made my day

 

[gritsar]

Quote:

Tami

Oyster shell is for laying hens, to provide supplemental calcium. As it does break down significantly when wet, it makes a poor substitute for grit. In addition, chicks don't need and shouldn't have supplemental calcium.

Mine are all layers.. the shells wont get wet, and i do have a drive way that they can pick up some too.. but maybe i wont use it.. thank you for the welcome, its really nice that some of you all talk to me.. feeling like an outsider isnt fun..
thanks again you made my day

It takes awhile to feel comfortable in a new place, even an internet forum. Stick around. You'll be an old-timer in no time.

 

[Judy]

Here's the BYC treats chart:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-Treats_Chart

There is an interesting entry at the bottom about feeding chickens cat food, or rather, why not to.

There is some grit in chick feed. I think whether to buy grit depends on your soil. The only rock we have is limestone, which is way too soft to grind food, so I buy grit. We have sand as well, but my flock does eat the grit, and I find a good supply in crops. If I had a gravel driveway I wouldn't buy grit. As it is, for 20ish chickens I doubt I spend over $10 a year on it.

Agree with above, don't confuse oyster shell and grit. Oyster shell is a calcium supplement only.

 

[Sinfonian]

I guess I did things more by the book my first time, but I bought chick grit from my feed store. The chicks absolutely love it and go to town on it when it's available. I guess either the needed it (doubtful) or it was a fun treat. Maybe my chickens are crazy. Hehe

 

[chickmchickie]

deleted

 

[BoltonChicken]

No one needs to "feed" grit to any chick at any age. They will find it on their own, especially if you have a dirt/sand/pebble floor under them. If they are on only chick starter they do not need to have grit. Do not feed them "treats" such as scratch, until they have a source of grit. Just a little sand in the coop will do. I put in a box of dirt so they can get dirt baths and scratch for the small sand and pebbles in the dirt.