lotlot Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Do chickens need grit? If i get some hens i will be feeding them layers pellets (Dodson & Horrell) and i am unsure whether they would need grit with this food. If they do, where can you get them from? Is it just like normal pet bird grit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 you can get poultry grit on its own or mixed poultry grit and oyster shell- the grit helps them grind up their food and the oyster shell gives them extra calcium for nice hard egg shells. We use the mixed. you should be able to get it at the same place you get your pellets and it's not normal bird grit (by normal i assume you mean budgie/parakeet) it's special poultry grit and you do need it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I don't use grit at all, my bag which has the layers pellets in says no grit is needed. My girls free range alot, so they may pick up their own grit then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I recycle my eggshells by baking them in the oven for a few minutes, sticking them in the food grinder and adding them to the layers pellets. Do NOT over bake the shells, the smell of burnt eggshells is disgusting Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Do NOTover bake the shells, the smell of burnt eggshells is disgusting Tessa Sooooo true......and it lingers for days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 well, 2 totally differing opinions, just goes to show! I use layers mash mostl which I don't think has grit in it, we're gradually moving over to pellets but we're still going to provide the mixed grit/oyster shell just to be on the safe side. When we give them treats, after they've finished they head straight for their bowl of grit, it's as if they know they need some Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I recycle my eggshells by baking them in the oven for a few minutes, sticking them in the food grinder and adding them to the layers pellets. Do NOTover bake the shells, the smell of burnt eggshells is disgusting Tessa we do that too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I leave a pot of mixed poultry grit in each run. They help themselves ad lib. I also give them limestone flour (calcium carbonate) mixed with their pellets. Shell quality has improves since I started doing that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh sarah Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 i dont give mine grit they have layers pellets which contain everything and they free range alot so appear to get all the grit they need, there egg shells are very hard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Mine have mixed grit on tap but I wouldn't care if the eggshells were soft or hard - I just want some eggs . Molly sort of crouched today so fingers crossed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newlaidegg Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 I haven't used grit at all. I feed mine organic layers pellets and they free-range and the shells are really hard. Obviously if they became thinner I would probably think again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 only feed them layers pellets and treats and they free range a few times a week and shells are as they should be.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 Mine get all the grit they need in the garden, I do add baked eggshells to their food though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lotlot Posted November 22, 2007 Author Share Posted November 22, 2007 So they don't require grit for health? This is confusing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 It's to help their digestion, so indirectly it does keep them healthy. If your girls freerange then they are unlikely to need any extra grit in their diet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 I understood the pellets have got grit in - but I mix some in with the pellets anyway, and they don't complaint! I also scatter some in the run when I refresh the aubiose. I'd rather err on the side of safety even if they don't really need it. I did try a separate pot of grit once, and they scoffed it up - and then played football with the pot, so I haven't bothered since! Mine don't free-range much, if they did I might not bother as they would get plenty form the garden. My understanding was that the grit (as previously posted here) helps them digest their food, but the eggshells are for added calcium - two different things. I do give mine crunched up eggshells as well, but three of mine are not laying at all at the moment, so as Vicki says, it's immaterial! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newlaidegg Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 I did try a separate pot of grit once, and they scoffed it up - and then played football with the pot, so I haven't bothered since! This made me laugh out loud! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
