CharLeila Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 ok, just been to Pets at Home to see what stuff they have for my girls. Quite a good selection! I was speaking to one of the employees about grit and she said they need it all the time. Is this right and if so how do you give it to your girls (in with thier normal food or seperately)? I also spoke to her about poultry tonic and poultry spice, she said they don't need them but I can give them to my girls if I like. I'm confussed, is she right? At the moment, I fill my grub to the brim with the stuff I got from Omlet and that seems to last about 4 days. (I bring it in with the superglug at night). They sometimes get porridge with cranberries, raisins and mealworms mixed in or mash and carrots peelings. Just things like that really. I'v had eggs off 1 of my girls and they seem fine so do I need to add anything extra? ooh, what about the wild bird stick feed things? Can they be given to chickens? Any advice would be good Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrambledhead Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Hello, Yes they should have access to grit at all times. I give mine separately to the food in a dish which hangs on the Eglu run bars. I also use Poultry Spice which I mix with chicken feed as a bit of a boost especially at this time of year and when I first got my rescue girls. Not sure about the wild bird food, but someone will know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 The mixed corn I buy has grit in, but I add extra to their layers pellets, they need it all the time to grind up the food in their crops, but if they free-range they will pick some up themselves Poultry tonics aren't needed, but some people give them all the time, I add bits to their water if and when they need it - they're moulting at the moment so have some added Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 the advice given is correct Grit is needed all the time (you can get it with oyster shell or without - I prefer to give it without as I dont want to add extra calcium to my hens diets unless they are showing signs of needing it) some people argue that pellets have added grit but its prudent to make extra available all the time, I give it either in separate pots or chuck a handful down each week for them to find as they scratch about. Some people add it to the grub of food which is also fine If giving it in a separate pot make sure it has drainage holes or it goes all nasty! Tonics are not needed as a rule, Poultry spice is good at times of stress though. Mine get a tonic in their water one week a month What you are feeding them is fine Wild bird sticks are usually not ok as they often contain suet, the sticks for parrots or hamsters etc.. that are held together with honey are ok in moderation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 All good advice, I agree, the only thing I would say is Pets at Home are very expensive, if you can, try and find an animal feed suplier near you, it will save you lots of money in the long run. I have been making a mash with their pellets and adding some poultry spice to it. I think it helps them when the weather is this bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 All good advice, I agree, the only thing I would say is Pets at Home are very expensive, if you can, try and find an animal feed suplier near you, it will save you lots of money in the long run. As you are living at RAF Wittering your best bet would be to go to SAPS or CWG in Stamford for your chicken food and other bits and bobs. SAPS (Radcliffe Road) is probably best. They do layers mash and pellets for about £6/£7 a sack (off the top of my head) also poultry grit which is cheap as chips there. They also have various tonics, lotions, potions, disinfectants etc etc at reasonable prices. For the grit, I just bought a cage cup from there (I think designed for parrot cages?) not very expensive at all, and filled it up with grit. The girls help themselves when they need it. Hope this is helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharLeila Posted January 7, 2010 Author Share Posted January 7, 2010 Thanks everyone, great advice. Lavenders_Blue, amazing. How do you do that? Cheers everyone. This forum is so helpful, maybe one day I'll be able to post useful advice??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 just a tip with cage cups drill a hole in the bottom for drainage if used with the grit just of center to the front Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Good tip, sjp. I will drill a hole in my cage cup to allow the grit to drain. Hadn't thought of that. CharLeila, how do I do what? Know where to buy chicken supplies in Stamford? Because I live 10 miles in the other direction, basically! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 My lot seem to eat quite a lot of grit, I have cage cups all around the walk in run and they help themselves when required. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharLeila Posted January 7, 2010 Author Share Posted January 7, 2010 ah, lavenders_blue. Rutland eh. I used to live in Edith Weston. I'll have a look at SAPS, sure to be cheaper then Pets at Home but where is CWG? Thanks again. Good to know there are other people in my area on the forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emchook Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Drilling a hole in the grit cup ! Why didnt I think of that !!!!! Thanks ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Hey CharLeila I'm in Cottesmore, so just up the A1 from you. I forget the name of the road but if you go past Morrisons in Stamford on the road out towards Deeping, CWG is on your left, you shouldn't miss it. Not sure what they have in terms of poultry supplies generally but they certainly sell layers mash and pellets so probably worth a look to compare prices with SAPS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 My lot have a Coup Cup full of mixed poultry grit permanently in the run. Sometimes they devour the grit daily, and sometimes they don't touch it for months... but it's nice for them to have it there should they need it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubababe Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 I bought an additional grub to put grit in. Should i drill holes in that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 I wouldn't worry if you put it under the shade so rain doesn't get in it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockadoodle1 Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 Hi The pellets at SAPS are £5.60 a 20kg bag (last time I bought some ) They come with grit so no real need to add extra. CWG on their website were a lot dearer for pellets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
