Chicken deficient Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 My Pekins are now about 12 weeks old. I have some photos, I just need to work out how to get them onto here next...! I'm feeding them Organic (Allen & Page) growers' pellets, but having to crush them up because one of them seems to really struggle with the size of them, though she can happily swallow a whole piece of sweetcorn. Is this normal? She is the smallest and thinnest of them all, but very bright and active. Also, I'd be grateful for a bit of grit advice. The normal big chicken grit I think is too big for them, but should I get them chick grit, pigeon grit or growers' grit?! Thank you! p.s I am now the proud owner of charcoal and celery crocs (after all, my Eglu is green and grey! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted July 22, 2007 Share Posted July 22, 2007 What breed of bantam do you have? Sorry but I haven't been on here for a week and haven't kept up to date, so if you've already posted the details -sorry!! Most bantams will be fine on normal size growers pellets. As for grit, we I use bird grit, or pigeon grit, from my nearest petfood shop for my chicks. Then when they are grown up, I use normal hen grit, but if you can by smaller grit for bantams, then I imagine it's better. Mine have a decent size area to roam in, so they can pick up what they need from the ground anyway, I just chuck some hen grit down every now and again to be sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prongs Posted July 22, 2007 Share Posted July 22, 2007 What do they do with grit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geb0205 Posted July 22, 2007 Share Posted July 22, 2007 eat it and it stays in the gizzard, to help break down the other food they eat (grind it up). My banties find normal pellets ok, but mine got on really well with the organic ones that are sold on Omlet (I got them from a local store), they are thinner and smaller than most pellets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted July 22, 2007 Share Posted July 22, 2007 Grit is a source of calcium and all that heebyjeeby, it supposedly makes the egg shells stronger. Although free range hens don't really need it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prongs Posted July 22, 2007 Share Posted July 22, 2007 Ooh, they EAT it? I thought you put grit on the roads! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geb0205 Posted July 22, 2007 Share Posted July 22, 2007 bird grit is crushed up seashell and small pieces of stone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prongs Posted July 22, 2007 Share Posted July 22, 2007 Oh, thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted July 22, 2007 Share Posted July 22, 2007 we give ours grit, but they just seem to throw it around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starboyhull Posted July 22, 2007 Share Posted July 22, 2007 Ours seem to kick it about but then its seems to dissappear so I assume they eat it in the end.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted July 22, 2007 Share Posted July 22, 2007 you will probably find a little pile of grit somewhere I assume thats what ours do aswell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starboyhull Posted July 22, 2007 Share Posted July 22, 2007 Probably a stash of it at the bottom of the garden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted July 22, 2007 Share Posted July 22, 2007 Yep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken deficient Posted July 25, 2007 Author Share Posted July 25, 2007 What breed of bantam do you have? Sorry but I haven't been on here for a week and haven't kept up to date, so if you've already posted the details -sorry!! Most bantams will be fine on normal size growers pellets. As for grit, we I use bird grit, or pigeon grit, from my nearest petfood shop for my chicks. Then when they are grown up, I use normal hen grit, but if you can by smaller grit for bantams, then I imagine it's better. Mine have a decent size area to roam in, so they can pick up what they need from the ground anyway, I just chuck some hen grit down every now and again to be sure. Thanks! I've got Pekin bantams, and one of them STILL thinks she can't eat pellets . Sweetcorn twice the size slips down no problem though...I can get hold of 'Growers' Grit', which I think is half way between chick and hen grit, so I guess I'll go for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celia williams Posted February 8, 2021 Share Posted February 8, 2021 What feed is best for my Old Dutch Bantams please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 On 2/8/2021 at 10:36 AM, Celia williams said: What feed is best for my Old Dutch Bantams please? Garvo does good food and I think also does bantam pellets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 I use Smallholder Layers pellets as the pellet size is v small but Garvo is another (more high end) brand 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 I have Dutch bantams amongst other bantams and they like and do well on Marriages Farmyard Layers Pellets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celia williams Posted February 11, 2021 Share Posted February 11, 2021 On 2/9/2021 at 7:17 PM, Cat tails said: Garvo does good food and I think also does bantam pellets. Thanks for your helpful suggestion! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
