To Grit or not to Grit ?

[country chic]

My chookers have plenty space out doors to peck around in, scratch soil, peck plants, eat bugs, however should I still provide them with grit and is roasted egg shells just as good as grit ? ( newby to chook keeping )

[Snadger]

Depends what you're feeding them on really. Layers pellets or mash is supposed to already have grit in it but a little extra wouldn't go amiss, and its very cheap.
I mix grit and oystershell with the mixed corn I give them each evening.

[mr darcy]

me too! oyster shell and mixed corn

[RichmondHens]

They need insoluble grit to help the gizzard grind down the food, especially if you are feeding corn. Unless a hen is totally free ranging (when they can find their own supply) you do need to provide this. Layers pellets or mash should contain enough calcium so it's not strictly necessary to provide oystershell, but it will help keep the shells nice and hard. It's OK to feed egg shells back to hens providing they have been cooked in some way - boiled or baked in the oven.

[TEB]

I keep 5 birds in a 20' x 12' run and only feed layer pellets, don't seem to have any issue with egg production.

[Flummery]

I feed back crushed baked shells and I also add a handful of mixed poultry grit to the bit of corn I throw around in the evening. They need both the soluble grit (shell, egg-shell) and the stone grit for grinding.

[RichmondHens]

I keep 5 birds in a 20' x 12' run and only feed layer pellets, don't seem to have any issue with egg production.

Lack of grit doesn't affect egg production. If they having an adequate diet in the form of pellets then they should be laying happily. The extra grit is needed for aiding the digestion of all the other bits they get. Any form of grain needs grinding, as do things like grass and vegetable fibres.

[TEB]

Lack of grit doesn't affect egg production. If they having an adequate diet in the form of pellets then they should be laying happily. The extra grit is needed for aiding the digestion of all the other bits they get. Any form of grain needs grinding, as do things like grass and vegetable fibres.

Once upon a time when their world was young, it was green and verdant and pleasing to look upon, now its a barren godless place, so no grass or vegetable matter.

[vicky]

That's funny TEB!

I provide oyster shell when the eggs get a bit soft shelled and grit when I remember, but they free range over a large area and the soil's sandy so there's plently around.

[Nicos]

My gals free range but still seem to need a bit of oystershell to peck at when they fancy- they actually enjoy trying to nip off bits from the edges of whole oyster shells!
In winter when the insects are less I give them porridge- with water, baked crushed eggshell, spice and garlic powder...and give then crushed oystershell seperately...ontop of their layers pellets.

My chooks were sharing turkey/goose finishing pellets for a while as I was told that'd be fine...until I got 3 soft shelled eggs..for the first time ever!
Took about a week of being back on layers pellets and cod liver oil and porridge with sesame seeds/apricots and extra crushed shell for thier shells to thicken up again.

Nope- I don't give grit cos mine can be seen eating the soil and oyster shell.
Apart from that one hiccup my eggs have been fine and the birds very healthy.
I also make sure that the grass doesn't get too long in the spring which could create problems in their croup.

If in doubt, give them grit!!

[winstonwobble]

for the price of a bag of grit it,s not worth them doing without and it will last you for ages had chooks about 2 years now still on the same bag

[jessmorris]

I agree. Mine seem to love grit (strange birds) , and even though they are free-ranging, they will dig into the bowl when its freshly filled.
Jm

[MrsC]

Whenever I get a bag of pellets I put it into rat proof tubs and mix it with oyster shell, grit and garlic granules and then feed as normal