When to start grit?

[Jenifer72]

Hello! I have week old chicks and they are being fed chick starter ONLY at this point. When should I start grit? At a certain age? With certain diets? Help would be appreciated!

 

[HEChicken]

As soon as you are feeding (or they have access to) any food other than the commercially prepared foods. If you want to give them treats or kitchen scraps or let them out to free-range, they will need to eat grit.

 

[bibliophile birds]

just a word of warning- they will eat every bit of grit you offer them! they only need it every couple of days, so don't just leave it out free choice or they will devour it in NO time. my little piggy chicks went through a box of cockatiel grit (because it's finer ground) in a couple of days before i realized that they don't need THAT much of it.

 

[Jenifer72]

Quote:
oh wow, I didn't know that! Thanks for the advice.

 

[Mrs.H]

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If they are fee-ranging wouldnt they not need grit since they would picking up small pebbles from the dirt? (Im new to chickens)

 

[herefordlovinglady]

i also use the bird grit and yes they will devour it.. i was surprised at how they love it. when free ranging they will get the grit they need from the soil. but if you are like me and still have them in the brooder and feeding treats, grapes, cabbage, noodles...i always sprinkle the grit on the food and around it so they will get grit as they devour the treats.

good luck with your fuzzy butts....

ETA:

 

[bibliophile birds]

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just to be clear, it won't hurt them to eat a lot of it... it just might hurt your wallet!

Mrs. H :

If they are fee-ranging wouldnt they not need grit since they would picking up small pebbles from the dirt? (Im new to chickens)

technically yes, but it never hurts to suppliment a little grit. what they can find in your yard may be too large or too small or too soft to be effective. mine are pastured (they have a fenced yard attached to a mobile coop that gets moved weekly) but i offer them grit just to be on the safe side. a 50 lb bag of grit last me MONTHS and it's $5.​

 

[HEChicken]

Mrs.H :

If they are fee-ranging wouldnt they not need grit since they would picking up small pebbles from the dirt? (Im new to chickens)

For the most part that is true. However although mine do free-range, I only have a suburban backyard lot and there isn't a LOT of grit for them to find, so I still offer it free-choice. I figure if they find enough on their own and don't need it, fine, but if they do need it, its there.​

 

[Jenifer72]

LOL! I was having a mental image of chickens so full of grit they're dragging their butts around like sand bags! HAHA! It's nice to know too much won't hurt them though but I'll be sure not to overdo it!

 

[herefordlovinglady]

Quote:
just to be clear, it won't hurt them to eat a lot of it... it just might hurt your wallet!

Mrs. H :

If they are fee-ranging wouldnt they not need grit since they would picking up small pebbles from the dirt? (Im new to chickens)

technically yes, but it never hurts to suppliment a little grit. what they can find in your yard may be too large or too small or too soft to be effective. mine are pastured (they have a fenced yard attached to a mobile coop that gets moved weekly) but i offer them grit just to be on the safe side. a 50 lb bag of grit last me MONTHS and it's $5.​

Had to hijack for a moment.
bibliophile birds: i read your signature line and all i have to say is WOW!!! you have a lot going on.

Okay back to grit. yes everyone is right it is best to supplement, i live in a very sandy part of the state so mine have plenty in the soil...