Bramble Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 This is a stoopid question, i know, but I'm just curious. Once the chucks eat a piece of grit, what happens to it (the grit, I mean, not the chuck)? I mean I know it helps them mash their food in their crop, but does the grit then pass out the other end with the remains of the food (I never see grit in chuck poo)? It can't stay in the crop or the chucks would end up rather top heavy! Sorry, like I say, dim question, but answers on a postcard please ..... Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJChick Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 I think it helps to make strong egg shells. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 The mixed grit that you buy contains two types of grit... Soluble calcium (usually crushed oyster shells) this is dissolved in their digestive system and then used to make strong egg shells and also the contractions to lay the eggs. TBH, it's not the most efficient form of giving them soluble calcium; you're better off adding a little cod liver oil and limestone flour to their pellets. Insoluble grit (wee flinty type stones) these can also be picked up when freeranging, but it's a good idea to add extra. This lodges in their gizzard - a very muscular organ which uses the stones (much like a tumble dryer with bricks in!) to grind up their food - they don't have teeth, so can't chew it like we do. The food can then be absorbed by the gut. Stones which are too small (like budgie or pigeon grit) will just pass right through. It's a good idea to keep a coop pot of grit in the run so that they can help themselves; plenty of it in their diet will help to prevent any digestive problems when the feed can back up into the crop. Be aware thought hat some daft hens can get a bit obsessed about pecking grit out of the pots (I think they like the noise ) so you may need to remove it for a few days until they have forgotten about it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted December 15, 2010 Author Share Posted December 15, 2010 Cool, thanks guys, now I know!! My chucks don't seem to bother that much with grit. They've got a pot in their run, which I probably only have to refill every few weeks. I give them the limestone flour and CLO in their food, so maybe that's why they don't bother so much with the grit!? Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...