When to feed chicken grit

[Lili Smith]

i have some chicken grit and don’t know how old my chicks need to be before I give it to them. My chicks are currently 3 weeks old and they eat chick crumb and peck at their bedding.

 

[AlleysChicks]

They can have chick grit which is very small like sand. But I wouldn’t give what’s in your hand until they are much older.

Tbh my first chickens didn’t get grit until they were laying and getting scratch grains and other treats.

 

[JeanR]

They do not need it unless you feed grains that must be broken down in the gizzard. Starter feed is sufficient. Only when you add coarse feed, do they need grit. There is Chick grit, for growing free range chicks that will be eating coarser stuff. The larger Granite Grit is for older birds. Same with Oyster SHell, no need until after pullets are laying well. They "come" with bodies prepared to develop egg shells, Lay feeds have enough for awhile, but should offer it not long after laying starts--they will eat it if they need it. Love those growing chicks!

 

[lazy gardener]

IMO, chicks should have grit. It's in their nature to seek it out. The grit you have is pretty big for them. Do you have a gravel driveway? You should be able to scoop some gravel up that will have appropriate sized granules in it for them. They will pick out the size they need, if you give them an offering which has various sizes. You could give them a clump of sod from your lawn if your lawn is not treated with chemicals. Simply place the sod upside down in their brooder and they will have a blast with it, after they get past the initial freak out, "That green and brown monster is going to KILL US! Run away, HIDE!!!!"

 

[GC-Raptor]

I offered my chicks, chick grit at 5 weeks when I took them out of the brooder and put them in the coop and they had access to grass and bugs.
They only got Start & Grow feed till 8 weeks, when I offered them scratch grains as a treat. At that time I mixed poultry grit in with the chick grit.
I have read on here that you can offer chick grit at 1 week old.
I chose to feed only the Start & Grow for 8 weeks. But they need grit if they have access to anything else, including veggies, grass, bugs, scratch grains and seeds. GC

 

[rosemarythyme]

I began offering my chicks chick-sized grit as soon as I had them (3 days old). By about a week old I was offering them tiny treats like pieces of dried mealworm, so they needed the grit to help break that down.

 

[chickens really]

They will peck what they need...Stick it in a separate bowl...

 

[Cindy in PA]

I offer chick grit from day 2-3. It is very fine granite I got years ago & am still using. They may only be eating chick food, but they also sample bedding etc. Has always worked sprinkling it on their food like you are salting it.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

i have some chicken grit and don’t know how old my chicks need to be before I give it to them. My chicks are currently 3 weeks old and they eat chick crumb and peck at their bedding.View attachment 1194717

A teaspoon of chick sized grit is the first thing that my chicks get post hatch.
Chicks are curious little buggers and they peck at anything and everything in their environment to gauge its suitability as food. In fact when you think about it what other way do chicks have to explore their world other than with their beaks? You'll also get a laugh when chicks get into the middle of their pile of grit and start scratching like full grown roosters or hens.

Then by one week of age they are scarfing down whole kernels of corn.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Chick grit, if you can find it... otherwise parakeet grit is the right size. I offered my chics grit after I'd had them about a week, when I first offered them mealworms. Best way to make them fall in love with you and associate you with food. meal worms.