Grit

[pdblake]

I bought a bag of grit at the weekend (ordered the hens, just waiting on price and delivery date). I noticed that it just seems to be, well, gritty bits of stone, like rough sand, and crushed shells.

Would I be right in thinking I can make this stuff up myself by filling a bag with grit and seashells the next time I take the kids to the beach? Perhaps grinding it all up?

[davefromthechipie]

That's a good idea ( they are oyster shells they use im not sure if normal shells found here will work but intresting to find out ) You would have disinfect the shells completely .I do the same thing with cuttlefish from the beach . Grits so cheap to buy ,But hell if your down the beach with the kids' it will keep them busy

[pdblake]

Umm, I seem to remember that you get lime from burning oyster shells. Best not bake eh, just in case

Maybe I'll stick to buying the stuff. It's a bout 60p a bag here anyway.

Now, how about making your own feed?

[Crundy]

I boiled a load of oyster shells (leftover from anniversary meal starter ) and put a couple of whole shells in. They didn't seem to fussed with them and haven't touched then since. I might smash up a few of them into fine shards and add it to their feed.

[HayleyB]

I'm using it as a slug deterrent experiment (I get our oyster shell in 20kg bags). I can't imagine how many shells you'd need to collect to make your own. My lot like snails too

[Hilary B]

The gritty bits are what birds use instead of teeth for chewing. The shell bits are for eggshell.
Roasted shells might well be a slug deterrent, until they got wet, but also a bit dangerous, roasting oyster shells makes quicklime, a very dangerous substance, until it gets slaked. Unroasted, well it might help a bit......

[Bephlam]

I just buy mine -- too much hassle to collect my own, even though the beach is on our doorstep! I do bake their shells though and feed that back to them -- the smell makes me feel ill, but it works a treat!

[sheena]

I'm using it as a slug deterrent experiment (I get our oyster shell in 20kg bags). I can't imagine how many shells you'd need to collect to make your own. My lot like snails too

Eh? You can buy it in 20kg? Don't tell me... Frontier again!!
How much do they charge for that, cos I bought a small pot of it from RobU@Home (formerly known as Pet's @ Home) and that cost me £4!!!

I'm currently giving their shells back to them after baking, (haven't left any in the oven again yet) and haven't had a softy for 2 days, but then I don't know who it is that is laying them, but know that it's not Boss or Wonky and I sat there yesterday for an hour waiting for them to lay.

[Crundy]

I bought a bag of mixed grit today (gizzard grit and calcium grit) and it cost £5.50 for a 25kg bag. They had 25kg bags of oyster shell grit for £7, but I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone. No, wait...