Drew and Alan Posted June 24, 2009 Share Posted June 24, 2009 Hi! next week we (hopefuly) get our very first 8 hens!! we bought all of the foods etc today ready but we cant find grit any where..... Here in our part of france the shops only sell crushed oyster shells for chickens instead... is this an ok replacement ? or this an 'extra' as well as needing grit? and to make it even more confusing, we have just read on a different (british) website that oystershells are bad for chickens..... the run the chickens will be living in is all bare earth with lots of little gritty stones etc. will they just 'eat' this instead? thanks in advance a confused Drew and Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 24, 2009 Share Posted June 24, 2009 Yes they will pick up little stones when they forage and will be fine, if you ever have to restrict them to their palatial quarters pick up some tiny stones and throw them in Oyster shell can be used to up their calcium levels if you are getting soft shelled eggs so is a different thing, there is debate about whether it is good or bad but mine have it and they havent turned green yet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 24, 2009 Share Posted June 24, 2009 I'd think they'd get enough when free-ranging. The only other thing I can think of is buy it online and get it delivered, but the postage would be really expensive. Maybe ask someone from over here thats coming to visit you, to take some with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 They see it in the Omlet shop & P&P is reasonable. Its the one I always tend to use Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 our local pet shop/feed store ( Seeneys) has it. But frankly they don't bother with it as they free range. In fact before I let them out they preferred to dig in the run( which is on soil - was lawn) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
