Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[LuckyChickenLover-]

How old should chooks be before you can give them grit? I bought a bag from the Omlet shop and the pieces in it look quite big, so I'm assuming you only start giving it to them when they're fully grown.

 

Thanks

~ Lucky Chicken Lover

[Tricky]

Dear Chicken lover,

 

I have never given mine grit. Probably wrong but if they free range in a suitable environment then they will find thier own.Otherwise, take advice from others with more knowledge than me on this

[LuckyChickenLover-]

Dear Chicken lover,

 

I have never given mine grit. Probably wrong but if they free range in a suitable environment then they will find thier own.Otherwise, take advice from others with more knowledge than me on this

 

I heard that it's kind of important. Apparently they need it for calcuim so and so that they lay hard-shelled eggs. Unfortunately I can't let mine free range because there are so many cats in the area, so they won't find their own.

 

Thanks for the reply though

[Tricky]

My egg shells have never been a problem.....and if the only reason you don't let your hens out is because of cats then I think you should release them. hens can hold their own against cats don't worry about that!!

[Redwing]

Flint grit - this stays in the chickens gizzard and is used to grind up food - it has no bearing on egg shells

 

Shell - this provides extra calcium

 

Grit is essential, shell is not. Many hens will pick up their own grit while free ranging as Tricky says

 

Normal chicken food should provide enough calcium but shell is useful if there are problems with shells

 

You can get grit that has shells in too (perhaps this is what you have?) the hens will probably pick out the bits that they need from it

 

Chick grit and growers grit is available, if feeding a normal chicken food diet this isnt really needed, if feeding treats then its useful. Standard hen-size grit from about 15 weeks ish, if your grit has shell in it then I personally wouldnt feed it until the pullets start laying, try and get some plain flint grit for now