Chicks & Grit

[Ducklover2]

Do chicks need grit when eating crumbles(chick starter).

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

No

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Well grit is not necessary for them to Digest water soluble feed such as commercial pellet or crumble, there is still reason to provide age appropriate grit at all stages in order to support proper development of the digestive tract. This is one excellent write-up on the science behind that statement..
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/the-science-of-feeding-grit-to-poultry.891051/

 

[Ducklover2]

will gravel do for full grown chickens. because we see our chickens eating the gravel driveway.

 

[21hens-incharge]

No.

Chicks are small and the grit they need is more like sand in size.
It is available in most feed stores near the chick supplies.

 

[Zinjifrah]

Some chick grit has probiotics in it, as well.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Some chick grit has probiotics in it, as well.

Never seen that. Had to look it up.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N7KBFC...t=&hvlocphy=9028904&hvtargid=pla-318336280006

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

will gravel do for full grown chickens. because we see our chickens eating the gravel driveway.

Ours only get gravel. If it's small enough it will work fine.

 

[21hens-incharge]

will gravel do for full grown chickens. because we see our chickens eating the gravel driveway.

I reread this......
Are you asking about your adult birds in this post? If so then likely yes gravel is ok. I buy grit for my big gals as my yard really doesn't have any.

That said..... I would not want them getting it from where a vehicle may have leaked any fluid.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I reread this......
Are you asking about your adult birds in this post? If so then likely yes gravel is ok. I buy grit for my big gals as my yard really doesn't have any.

That said..... I would not want them getting it from where a vehicle may have leaked any fluid.

I hadn't thought about that. We use gravel as a substrate in our shed and around it. The chickens turn it to dust eating all the rock bits, we replenish it yearly. They do consume a lot of it.