Where does everyone buy their grit.....what size?

[Smitty's Farm]

I have been buying grit from various places like grocery store, walmart, target, etc out of the bird pet section (all the same brand), b/c my local tractor/feed store doesn't carry it. Sometimes I can't find it in stock. I was just wondering what other people buy and if that is the right size for my chickens. I have 16 chickens that were hatched about mid April. I just want to make sure that I'm buying the right stuff and appropiate size for their age. I have RIR'S, SLW, and EE.

Thanks,
Kim

 

[silkiechicken]

I don't buy grit, I just let them pick up their own rocks from the ground out in the garden or gravel drive way.

 

[Smitty's Farm]

Quote:
Mine have been confined to their run b/c of Hawk visits. Their covered run is 14 x 20. There is some rocks in their run, but how will I know if they are consuming enough grit? If I am home to supervise I will let them free range a few hours before dusk. I just wanted to make sure they are getting everything they need to stay healthy. They seem to be eating more since the temps have dropped. I guess I worry about crop impact.

 

[silkiechicken]

Well, if you can see rocks in the run, and they don't have that much stringy green stuff like grass, as I am going to assume that it's probably pretty barren by now, they should be fine. Consumption of the sand off the ground will even work. If you want, you can buy rocks though.

 

[eggchel]

I supply grit to any birds that are continuously penned or caged since they dont have yard access, and I supply grit to any birds that receive a large portion of whole grains in their feed. Usually I buy pigeon grit because that is all I can find. I prefer the smaller granite grit, especially for juveniles and bantams, but I have trouble locating it in larger quantities. The pigeon grit is fine for the standard fowl and waterfowl.


Chel

 

[Smitty's Farm]

Thank you Silkiechicken and Eggchel. My pen is barren, but does have rocks of all sizes in it that was there before we built the run. It only took the chickens less than a month to eat all the yummy greens from the run. I use to not worry about it b/c they would free range 2 x's a day before they started laying. After they started laying I would keep them in their coop connected with connected run and let them out to free range in the afternoon, until the visits of the local Hawks. This past month our schedules have been hectic and they haven't been able to free range as often, so didn't know if I should offer grit to help with digestion since they are eating more layer crumbles lately. Hopefully things will slow down for me and my schedule and they will have more time to free range in the evenings. I have only been able to find the grit that is for parakeets that is small, fine grained, but in small box and not always in stock. I only offer it occassionally and didn't know if I should offer it on a reg basis. When I offer it they gobble it up. I also offer kitchen scraps occassionally. I just want to make sure they are getting everything they need since they aren't free ranging as much as they use to.

Thanks,
Kim

 

[paganfish]

Right around this time of the year I go to the sand barrier out in the property and get a few buckets full for the Winter. We get tons of snow and the birds can't get at the grit under it...

During Summer they get their own!

 

[schmoo]

Mine were born in May and I give them the chicken grit from TSC. It lasts a long time. Its around $5.00 a bag. I gave them "chick" grit from there until maybe last month. I just put it in a little rabbit feeder on the wall and they peck at it if they want.

 

[Smitty's Farm]

Quote:
What is TSC? Are you giving them chicken grit now? I assume that it is a little bigger than chic grit? Do your chickens free range or are them confined to a coop/run? The rabbit feeder on the wall is a great idea. Thanks for your input!

 

[schmoo]

TSC is Tractor supply company. I thought maybe they would have one down there. My chickens have a run and they don't free range. There is sand in the run but I figured since its getting colder and I have been giving them cracked corn and scratch more they needed something a little bigger than sand. I also give them grass, until it freezes anyways. The grit is like small jagged edged rocks the size of maybe nerds (the candy) or a tiny bit bigger.