Chick eating sticks

[Chickenwithnobrim]

So ive got a container full of spagnum peat moss for them to dirtbathe in and they are 3 weeks now, been dirtbathing since 1 week. Today one chick ate a large chunk of twig that was decomposing in the mixture. I saw it in her beak and she immediately ran away like a toddler and as soon as my hands wrapped around her she swallowed it. It barely fit in her beak! Im worried now that she will become impacted but i dont think this is her first time?? She often eats little bits while dirtbathing, and i feel like she wouldnt die from this, i mean she has to go outside and learn what to eat at somepoint right??? If she dies from a dirtbathe incident i feel like she wouldnt have much of a chance on her own anyways and i shouldnt be too worried but i am.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Do they have grit available?

 

[Chickenwithnobrim]

Do they have grit available?

No, i have sand i could give to them but im afraid of it being mouldy, its been sitting outside for awhile in a bucket, and theres no feed stores that sell less than 20kg bags of grit, which would probably be too big for chicks anyways. Im not sure what to give them so i havent been giving them any treats and so far its been alright

 

[ChickNanny13]

Amazon has Chick Grit, WalMart does too and Feed Stores.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

No, i have sand i could give to them but im afraid of it being mouldy, its been sitting outside for awhile in a bucket, and theres no feed stores that sell less than 20kg bags of grit, which would probably be too big for chicks anyways. Im not sure what to give them so i havent been giving them any treats and so far its been alright

Are you in the US? Chewy has it online and tractor supply has chick grit. If your chicks are eating pieces out of the peat moss then they definitely need grit.

 

[BelovedBirds]

No, i have sand i could give to them but im afraid of it being mouldy, its been sitting outside for awhile in a bucket, and theres no feed stores that sell less than 20kg bags of grit, which would probably be too big for chicks anyways. Im not sure what to give them so i havent been giving them any treats and so far its been alright

What about dirt from outside? They could pick out any fine gravel. @HollowOfWisps Would that be suitable? Just thinking that they need grit ASAP after eating those things

 

[Chickenwithnobrim]

Amazon has Chick Grit, WalMart does too and Feed Stores.

Unfortunatly the chick grit on amazon is 65$ for 5 pounds and i wont even get through 1 lb, i only have two chicks. Walmart only carries oyster shell grit which is soluble and i dont know if that amount of calcium is bad for their kidneys. Feed stores only sell adult grit in 20 kg bags

 

[Chickenwithnobrim]

Are you in the US? Chewy has it online and tractor supply has chick grit. If your chicks are eating pieces out of the peat moss then they definitely need grit.

Im in canada the only thing i can find is oyster or clay parakeet grit.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Not Oyster ... too much calcium for a chick
Fine gravel, sand or do you know anyone with chickens that have grit for theirs .... ask for some and smash with a hammer to make smaller size.

 

[BelovedBirds]

Im in canada the only thing i can find is oyster or clay parakeet grit.

You definitely don't want oyster.
Are there no small buckets or bags of chick grit on amazon? What about other websites?