Grit for Chickens

[ninnymary]

I have always giving my chickens oyster shell and grit, free choice. Now, I've ran out of grit, am sick and don't feel like driving 15 miles to get it. It seems to me that the oyster shell can do the same work, smash the pellets.

They only eat layer pellets and occasional greens.

Is grit necessary?

Mary

 

[lesa]

Yes, grit is necessary- but you don't have to buy it. If your birds have access to good old fashioned dirt- they do not need you to go to the store to buy grit. Do they get outside in the dirt? Sorry you are not feeling well...

 

[Ridgerunner]

I totally agree. If they are eating greens they need grit to grind the greens up in the gizzard. Oyster shell does not work partly because it is kind of soft but mainly because the chickens generate acid in their digestive system just like you do and that acid will dissolve the oyster shell.

I also agree of they can get to the ground they will find their own.

If all they eat is the Layer pellets they do not need grit. It has alread been ground up fine enough. When they make pellets, they just add water to form a paste and extrude that wet paste through a die and dry it. Their system can easily dissolve that pellet.

If you were feeling better, I'd say just go to a gravel road or driveway and scrape some smaller rock and coarse sand up. They can use pebbles the size of a pea for grit. Or go to a sandbar or gravel bar in a stream. Or dump a bag of pea gravel in their run. A lot of that pea gravel will be small enough for them to use. Even a bag of coarse construction sand will work. Play sand is too fine and will go right through their system.

The stuff you buy as grit is granite, screened from the refuse at a granite quarry. It's real hard and might last a month in their gizzard. The other rocks around they might pick up from the ground might be softer and not last as long, but they will still do the job.

Hey, Mary, get better and enjoy your good weather while it lasts.

 

[ninnymary]

Thanks guys, I sucked it up and went to buy some. Now, I'm eating soup and will go rest. I think Hoodat jinked our weather. It' overcast but at least it's fairly warm and no snow!

Mary

 

[thistlebloom]

Hope you're feeling better in a hurry Mary! Glad to hear you're aren't getting snow too.

 

[897tgigvib]

We have some kind of storm coming in NinnyMary. Take it easy and get well.

 

[digitS']

Oh!

You sure you don't want to blame me, Mary?

Hoodat didn't do anything other than describe the influences.

JinxS'

 

[ducks4you]

UNfortunately, during the winter, you need to give them grit, free choice. They will consume what they need. If you offer it and it disappears, they needed it. If you're ONLY feeding commercial feed, they can digest that without the grit. You need it if you offer them garden/kitchen scraps. This is how birds "chew" up their vegetable/meat food. BTW, chickens love mice.

 

[seedcorn]

Oyster shell will work as grit, just not as long. If all you are feeding is pellets, none needed. Commercial layer houses do not give them any as pellets don't need grit. Oyster shell gives you extra calcium--again not needed w/pellets. All grit will do for you is make the gizzards toucher and larger (it is a muscle). I never understood the desire to eat gizzards. Dad loved them, me just as soon chew on chewing gum.........

Agree chickens allowed near rocky soil, will find their own, no need to buy.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I never understood the desire to eat gizzards. Dad loved them, me just as soon chew on chewing gum.........
.

Depends on how it is cooked. I use mine in the broth, which means it is in the crock pot for maybe 10 to 12 hours. There's not much chewing involved with the gizzard then.