What should I use as grit for my chicks

[Gavinthesheep735]

New to raising chickens and not sure if the chicks feed has grit in it or if I have to give them grit, and if so what should I use

 

[Poultrybreeder]

You will have to give them grit. You could use oyster shell, or other things that you find online, just make sure that it is ground up really small!

 

[The Golden Egg5]

DO NOT USE OYSTER SHELL!
If you go to your feed store or tsc you can most likely find small 5 pound bags of grit. Oyster shell is meant to supplement laying hens with calcium and the excess calcium can harm a chick if you feed it to them. Grit is made of granite. The best grit for small chicks under 8-10 weeks is chick grit and after that you move to normal sized grit.

 

[hlhutchinson]

You should be able to get grit at your local feedstore. If they free range they can normally get the grit they need (mine free range but I still offer it to them just incase) if they are just eating chicken feed and nothing els I have been told they don't need grit. No feed does not have grit in it, at least iv never seen it, however this is my first summer with chickens (so I'm not the most experienced) but this is the information I have gathered

 

[hlhutchinson]

• Don't confuse oyster shell with grit. Grit is insoluble. It stays in the gizzard and it's used to grind food. Oyster shell dissolves in the gut and its job is to add calcium to the diet of laying hens.

This was taken from http://www.raising-happy-chickens.com/grit-and-oyster-shell.html

Good info on grit and oyster shell

 

[Pork Pie]

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/891051/the-science-of-feeding-grit-to-poultry

 

[Beer can]

If your feeding them chick starter there's no need for grit IMHO. Only if your feeding them stuff that's not easily digested like vegetables or grains. I stick to good protein chick starter and nothing else except for a little scrambled eggs sometimes which they need no grit either.
When they're big enough to go outside they get all the grit they need dirt/stones.
IMHO

 

[ronott1]

New to raising chickens and not sure if the chicks feed has grit in it or if I have to give them grit, and if so what should I use

If your feeding them chick starter there's no need for grit IMHO. Only if your feeding them stuff that's not easily digested like vegetables or grains. I stick to good protein chick starter and nothing else except for a little scrambled eggs sometimes which they need no grit either.
When they're big enough to go outside they get all the grit they need dirt/stones.
IMHO

You do not need to give them grit like beer can said, if you are feeding them starter. If you are giving them treats that are not pre mashed or crushed, you can buy a bag of chick grit. It is a smaller version of chicken grit. You should be able to find it at a feed store or buy it from amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Manna-Pro-14...TF8&qid=1498855376&sr=8-3&keywords=chick+grit

 

[Folly's place]

I start grit (NOT oyster shell!!!) when they get food treats. The above Chick Grit is fine, although I've found it by the pound at the pet store, for caged birds. Much less expensive! My broody raised chicks are outside on the ground very early, and find their own without a lot of extra from me. Mary

 

[Gavinthesheep735]

Thanks for replying so quickly I will have to get some grit When I go to the feed store