Poorly chicken

[squidsin]

I've just got some of this for my bantams - do I just mix a spoonful in with their pellets? Is it really essential? They FR every day and spend most of the time digging and pecking in the dirt round my borders. We've just had the patio done so plenty of grit there!

[Chook n Boo Mum]

I have cage cups of grit in each run & occasionally sprinkle a handful for them to scrabble for...they take what they need

 

Sha x

[Hen Watch]

I leave a coup cup of grit in the run all year round.

 

Some months they don't touch it at all, and once or twice they've eaten loads in just a few days.

 

 

[The Dogmother]

As the others have said, they will take it as they need it. It is definitely worth having a pot of it in the run. The insoluble grit will help their digestion and prevent any crop/gizzard problems.

[Egluntyne]

If they are free ranging they will pick up all they need for grinding purposes.

 

However, as a belt and braces approach, I always leave a pot of Mixed Poultry Grit (the sort with seashell bits in it) out, so that they can help themselves.

[Lo]

and if you mix crumbled up egg shell with it you will find that it magically disappears from the pot onto the floor within a matter of seconds in the rush to just eat the shell - why do hens love this so much?

[squidsin]

Thanks everyone. They've been eating the grouting between my patio flagstones so I haven't been too worried about giving them grit but will sort it out later.