Grit aids chickens in digesting food in their crops and gizzards. It is often mixed into feed in a hopper and distributed ad lib.
Grit may not be necessary if a flock only consumes commercial layer pellets or crumble, as those foods have already been broken down. However, any treats or snacks added to their diet require it.
Soluble Grit
Chickens require grit for digestive health and to help break down tough foods they eat, such as seeds. To provide your flock with adequate grit supply, offer it in separate containers (e.g. a low sided flower pot, dog bowl or trough) instead of mixing it into their feed. By doing this, accidental overeating that could lead to crop impaction is reduced as is the chance that your chickens contaminate their feed with dirt and debris from outside sources. If your chickens have access to free range or have access to an enclosed run (like our Penthouse and Taj Mahal chicken coops, which feature an enclosed run), they should find plenty of grit in the soil, treats and snacks; however, we advise adding additional grit as part of their daily diet for optimal digestion of any extra food they might receive.
Grit can come in both soluble and insoluble forms. Soluble grit, composed of limestone or crushed oyster and cockle shells that contain calcium carbonate, provides your flock with essential calcium carbonate for strong bones. Furthermore, adding soluble grit to their feed as free range poultry might consume raw eggs with high calcium content or plants with more abundant amounts of calcium than usual – these could all compromise their calcium intake levels significantly.
Insoluble grit is comprised of pieces of granite or flint that cannot dissolve in water, and should be the primary form of feed given to your flock as it stays put in their stomach and aids digestion of tough foods. To keep them happy and healthy, both types should be offered regularly.
Chick Grit
Chicks require grit to aid them in breaking down their food properly since they do not possess teeth. This helps improve nutrient absorption, particularly when starting on starter feed that contains few vegetables or hard foods like seeds or nuts. Chick grit comes in pellet or crumble form and should be given regularly in small doses as part of feeding time; you can purchase either small containers for easy feeding, or larger bins that can be set on the ground and filled as necessary with new grit when necessary.
Once a chick reaches 16 weeks, they should switch to layer grit which is larger. They’ll use this food to break down hard foods in their gizzards to aid their digestive systems and ensure they always have access to both soluble and insoluble types if their digestion goes awry. If unsure which kind or how much grit to give your chicks, contact your local feed store or veterinary clinic for guidance.
