Elderly cat breathing difficulties when purring

[mavis'smum]

I'm new to chickens, we got our two on Friday. They seem to be quite happy, but I've just one question (so far!). I've put two large handfuls of grit into the run and they've eaten the lot, both times. How much of the stuff is it normal for them to get through? I think they've had more grit than food. Is this normal?

Thanks

[cluckbok]

Not sure how much they can have, but we mix ours in with the layers pellets just one or two handfuls per grub top up. Also we have corn with grit in. We don't tend to give it on it's own that often. Some people bake the empty egg shells and give that to them, we are yet to try that. To do that you pre-heat oven to 180 degrees and bake them for 3 minutes, then remove, cool and crumble up the shells.

[Egluntyne]

Welcome to the forum mavis'mum.

 

Some do eat more than others, so it is probably nothing to worry about.

 

Mine help themselves from a pot full in the garden. Sometimes they go absolutely mad for it.....often they leave it alone.

 

As long as they are eating well and drinking they should be fine.

 

Maybe scatter a smaller amount each time.

[Roxanne]

I have a pot of grit available for my Omlets and they always finish it in a few days. The ex-batts have to have it sprinkled on their food.

 

I also dry their egg shells on the back of the aga and crush them before putting them in with weetabix or porrige to ensure it gets eaten.

 

When I was away last year my relief hen keeper forgot to put grit out and we had quite a few soft shelled eggs and it was also the time Harriet had weak legs which may have been due to a drop in calcium.

 

If the hens free range they pick up grit and small stones, but it is necessary to supplement if they are in a confimed arrangement.

 

Hope this helps!

[Egluntyne]

I add limestone flour to their pellets to ensure an adequate calcium intake.

 

Shells as hard as rock now.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I leave a wee pot full of mixed grit in the run - sometimes they empty it in a few days, sometimes it seems to take them ages to get through

[Sarah B]

Hello,

 

Since I have put a 'hang up bowl' of grit in the run it doesn't get touched? They only have limited free range.

 

I've put some in the pellets but they don't eat those much either

 

Tried scattering some - don't seem that fussed either. What else can I do?

[scriv]

how much limestone flour to you add to pellets please?

 

Jon

[sheik]

I'm a bit confused, aren't grit and calcium required for two separate reasons?

I thought grit was to help them digest food (like dinosaurs swallowing rocks) and the calcium is to help them make egg shells?

 

So, feeding them ground up egg shells might help prevent soft-shelled eggs, but grit would still be needed, wouldn't it?

 

We buy feed with calcium added already, and have a pot of grit in their run. They eat the grit when they feel like it - it seems like they nibble it in their beak to gauge the size and then swallow it if they approve!

 

/\dam

[Egluntyne]

I'm a bit confused, aren't grit and calcium required for two separate reasons?

I thought grit was to help them digest food (like dinosaurs swallowing rocks) and the calcium is to help them make egg shells?

 

You are quite right.

 

That is why it is best to give Mixed Poultry Grit, which consists of stones of assorted sizes, and broken oyster and cockle shells. Often they aren't readily enough absorbable, that is why I give Limestone flour.

 

I add a tablespoonful per full grub of pellets.