Where to Find Chick Grit Without Calcium?

[californiachicks]

We live in Southern California. We have four baby chicks about 2 weeks old and would like to occasionally introduce treats (a few mealworms), but have read we'd need to give them a little chick grit since they do not go outside...and it needs to be calcium free as baby chicks shouldn't be given extra calcium. None of the feed stores around here have heard that little baby chicks shouldn't have calcium, and none have chick grit. In fact, they all said they hadn't hear of such a thing. I only found one company on Amazon that sells chick grit, but they don't list their ingredients and the shipping is high. I cannot locate where to buy crushed granite, either. Help. Where can I buy chick grit at a reasonable price, or find crushed granite? Thanks.

 

[sumi]

You can give them coarse sand, like builder's sand also. Or, if possible, just put a pile of soil in their brooder for them to scratch in and peck. They'll find rough bits in there too.

 

[californiachicks]

I was thinking about play sand as well, but then I heard that play sand has carcinogens...not even good for kids...do you know what builder's sand is made of?

 

[countrygoddess]

Wow, that surprises me that feed stores wouldn't know that chicks need grit. All the feed stores I've been to here in Vermont carry it, along with regular grit. I had chickens in Seattle years ago, too, and had no difficulty finding chick grit. Here is the kind the feed store I usually go to carries: http://www.mannapro.com/products/poultry/poultry-grit-chick-grit/ It's finely crushed granite, so no calcium.

It's true that you don't want to give your young birds excess calcium. They have just what they need in their starter and grower feed and any extra can cause kidney problems down the road. Also, according to my book, Feeding Poultry by G. F. Heuser (republication from 1955 by Norton Creek Press), "Some [minerals] are detrimental in large amounts. For instance, too much calcium will retard growth and increase mortality in chicks and decrease production and hatchability." This information was referenced to Black, D. J. G. A comparison of some methods of supplying calcium to intensively kept chicks. Jour. Agr. Sci. 36:199. 1946.

 

[cadeschicks]

Where I live you can buy the Manna Pro chick grit at walmart.

 

[dainerra]

just get some regular grit and mash it up into some smaller pieces. That's all that "chick grit" is and the amount they actually need to eat is pretty small. You likely won't even be able to tell if they have taken some.

 

[countrygoddess]

just get some regular grit and mash it up into some smaller pieces. That's all that "chick grit" is and the amount they actually need to eat is pretty small. You likely won't even be able to tell if they have taken some.

That's a good idea, but grit is usually granite--Manna Pro is--and it would be impossible to mash it up without going to extremes. Easier to just get it as pre-ground.

 

[californiachicks]

I just ordered chick grit on line through McMurray Hatchery. They informed me that their chick grit does not contain calcium. So I'm good to go. Thanks!

 

[countrygoddess]

I just ordered chick grit on line through McMurray Hatchery. They informed me that their chick grit does not contain calcium. So I'm good to go. Thanks!

Yay! Maybe you could talk with your local feed store about carrying it so you don't have to order it online and pay shipping every time...

 

[Missa Chickabee]

I have a bag of crushed "CherryStone" ...apparently it's crushed quartzite and usable as chicken grit. I got it at the local coop. Huge bag for 8 bucks.