when to give grit?

[blueheaven]

need a bit of help:

when can i give chicks litle treat? (yoguart/bugs/flowers)...(what age?)

how old should they be to put grit out? can i just use sand?

 

[Cats Critters]

when can i give chicks litle treat? (yoguart/bugs/flowers)...(what age?)

I started giving them treats at about two weeks old

how old should they be to put grit out?

When you start giving them treats you give them grit

can i just use sand?

Sorry, I don't know

 

[Judy]

Many do use sand or let the chickens find their own, if they are on the ground. Our soil is sandy and I can't even buy grit in the local farm supply store. Although they carry feed and supplies for the typical array of farm animals, the clerk had never even heard of chicken grit. Some on here buy smaller grounds granite designed for young chicks or they use parakeet grit. I have to drive 45 minutes to a TSC to find grit, and they are out half the time.

If there is an official "best" answer to this question, I have not seen it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If their mother was raising them outside they would use sand and do fine. When they got a little bigger, they would use sand and small stones. If it is good enough for their Mommy, it is good enough for me.

The hardness of the sand will depend on your native rocks. Most grit you buy is made of granite, which is very hard. If you native rock is softer, it just means that the grit will get ground up a little faster in their gizzard, pass through their system, and they'll need to replenish.

One thing I would look out for. If it is beach sand, it might be salty. A quick rinse would take care of that and it does not take sand long to dry.

Good Luck!!

 

[Opa]

As long as the only thing you are feeding is chick starter you will not need grit. However, as soon as you start feeding anything coarser they will need grit to assist in digestion.

 

[blueheaven]

i gave my chicks some worms. they went crazy!!!

so i got some sand from the sand box. i could see some decent sized pebbles - and they LOVE the sand.

thanks for the help.
christy