Unsecure chicken perches

[shoura]

My chooks seem to get through a fair amount of co"Ooops, word censored!" grit---I give it to them in a plastic container rahter than scattering it on the ground.

Anyway, my question is: where do you buy the stuff from? I got my original bag from the place where I bought the hens but it's a bit far away to go back to just for grit!

[Plum]

I found pet shops sell it.

[Redwing]

I got mine from an aggregate supplier but then we get through a lot here!

 

Aricultural merchants will have it as will some pet shops

[The Dogmother]

Most feed suppliers stock it - roughly where do you live?

 

I take it that you mean this stuff?

 

[shoura]

The stuff I've got (well almost run out of) doesn't have any bits of shell in it but otherwise yes it looks pretty much like that!

edit: So I should be able to get it from Scats if my pet-shop doesn't stock it?

[chickenNutter]

Another grit question - does the size matter? The pet shop where I got mine, and whose owner has chickens poured my latest bagfull out of a general pet bird grit sack, and it is quite fine. I have mixed it with fine oyster shell, but is the size/co"Ooops, word censored!"ness of it critical? My girls are scoffing loads of it at the moment.

[The Dogmother]

If it's too fine, it will just pass throught the bird, it needs to be just a bit bigger than shown in the picture in my earlier post (pic isn't life-sized). Pet bird grit usually only contains insoluble grit for their digestion, and doesn't always have the soluble calcium (shell bits) for egg shell strength and to boost laying contractions.

[chickenNutter]

Rats! Will have to get rid of large bag I just bought! Definitely smaller than the stuff in the picture.

 

Thanks Claret

[The Dogmother]

See if you can freecycle it to someone who has aviary birds.

[Jools]

You may find a home here for the smaller size co"Ooops, word censored!" grit as it's ideal for chicks and growers. I usually buy a small bag of grit from my local pet shop each year, specifically for my chicks.

 

I've noticed that the bigger garden centres have started stocking poultry grit, and other stuff too, so you shouldn't find it too hard to come by.

 

What are you feeding your girls? If they're on mainly layers pellets or mash, they shouldn't need much (if any) additional oystershell grit as it's already in their food. You can buy the two types of grit separately which may work out more economical.

[Redwing]

I dont feed the grit with the bits of shell in and have had no problems so far

 

I read somewhere that a lot of calcium in the diet can actually cause problems with soft shelled eggs, true or not true its put me off! I rely on the calcium in pellets only

[Jools]

I've read similar things Redwing so I don't supplement calcium either.

 

On the same subject, there's a school of thought that suggests switching from growers to layers in preparation for a pullet coming into lay causes problems with laying too young, leading to prolapses etc etc.

 

Sometimes I think there's so much information out there that making a decision gets more difficult as a result!!

[Redwing]

I agree

 

I now only switch to layers once the first pullet in the pen starts laying so as not to get them on to layers too early

 

Maybe we worry too much

[Space Chick]

Well my little Appenzeller has been on layers pellets since she arrived in October, is now nearly a year old and still hasn't laid

[Jools]

A lady that pretty can't possibly lower herself by laying eggs.

[shoura]

I've just been supplementing co"Ooops, word censored!" grit without extra calcium, relying on the calcium in the pellets, and all my eggs have been perfect since day 1!! (There should be a "fingers crossed" smiley!)

[Dappy Chick]

I was getting some soft shelled eggs and was told it was because I was giving oyster shell (in seperate containers) which was giving them too much calcium.

 

Once I took the Oyster shell out the soft eggs stopped.

 

Now I only give them shell rarely and only because I still have a big bag to use up. I also just give them 6mm gravel/grit as it is much cheaper than the grit you buy in petshops etc - the only difference is that it is not as clean and needs a quick wash with the hose. I have also used 6mm granite when I have it or 0/4mm granite for chicks or dust bathing.

[Jools]

I think the important thing is to make sure that the starting point is a well balanced diet, which is what the commercial feeds are - chick crumb, growers, layers, breeders etc. The majority of poultry will thrive on the right diet with only the minority needing extra vits or minerals for their special needs. Bit like us really.