When to give chickens grit?????????????????

[lanie8]

Hey guys , I have A question? My chickens Are about A month and a half and I was wandering if they were ready for grit yet, I was also wandering what kind of food to give them, and what kind of grit to give them. Thanks, oh and P.S. ,they are all layers , 1 red chanticleer, and 2 sliver whyodottes Thanks!

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

Are they out free ranging? If so there is no need to give them any grit...they will find it all themselves but if they are locked up in the coop I would just find a cheap bag at fleet Farm/farm and fleet of small grit to start with until they got older. They don't need much if any when they are young and a lot of the bagged foods will have grit already in it. I never give my chicks grit at all.

 

[kelar]

They don't need grit until they are being fed whole grains. If they are on starter, they don't need it yet. I switch mine over to a 20% flock raiser at about 4 months of age, but don't give them grit until they are getting scratch or oats or other grains with their feed.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

Can I aak the same question slightly differently? Will it hurt them to have grit as young chicks?

Since my broody is raising our new chicks in the coop and run, I can't completely control their access to food and Mama slips them the treats we give her.

 

[lanie8]

K thanks guys so so much!!

 

[kelar]

It won't hurt them. Just make sure the broody and her chicks are being fed starter and NOT layer.

 

[gjensen]

Grit is necessary or not necessary based on feed and enviroment. My chicks get chick grit. At about eight+ weeks I start giving them grit for larger birds. Grit is an aid in digesting or processing misc. fibrous materials they may ingest other than their feed only. In many cases it is not whether it is necessary, but whether it is an aid. I reccomend chick grit and grit for adults free choice. They will ingest what they need and no more.

 

[stargirl]

My girls ignore whatever specialist chicken grit I put out for them & prefer to peck at the grout in my brickwork!

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

Kelar, thanks for the clarification. I only have starter available for them - probably not the ideal thing for mama but I figured itnwas more important for the babies to have the proper nutritional balance.