i am going to start keeping hens but i can not find out anywere how much and how often i need to put grit out for them, and also is it better to scatter it or keep it in a tub for them to get it, any help would be great.thanksxx
2007-03-14 01:49:42 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Birds
They need grit pretty much all the time , this helps form the eggs when they lay and to help churn food in there stomachs, without it the shells on the eggs they lay will become weak and they will not be able to eat properly.
Its best kept in a dish so they can eat it as and when.
2007-03-14 05:25:32 · answer #1 · answered by Lucy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Grit and calcium are two different products. Grit is the fine rock particles which help digestion. There should be a dish of grit available at all times. Scattering it just means it'll get stomped into the ground and most of it is wasted.
There should also be a dish of calcium supplement (oyster shell or whatnot) available separate from the grit dish. The calcium helps replenish what making eggs takes away.
Chickens will eat both as needed.
2007-03-14 02:29:02 · answer #2 · answered by Theresa A 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Grit For Chickens
2016-11-17 00:00:04 · answer #3 · answered by Erika 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hens as with all birds should have a constant supply of grit.
Most birds in cages in the home have a little tub which si sufficient for hens too, but hens love to scratch and claw the ground for theirs.
If you prefer a tub then thats fine but they would also like to scratch and get it from scatterings on the ground
2007-03-14 01:55:00 · answer #4 · answered by Sass 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should have a container of grit in the hen house so the hens can get it when they need it
2007-03-14 06:16:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just always kept a pan with crushed oyster shell for them it provides calcium supplement for them to make eggs and also gives them grit for their gizzards. If they are free range they will eat small rocks and stuff for grit , but oyster shells are cheap and last forever but i wouldn't spread it on the ground or you will loose more than they use
2007-03-14 02:54:28 · answer #6 · answered by dollars2burn4u 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i used to have a half dozen chooks and once a week would scatter a liberal amount of shell grit around their free range area when i chucked the scraps out . they need shell grit for obvious reasons --- nice hardy eggs . good luck
2007-03-14 02:02:13 · answer #7 · answered by bill g 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Mine can have as much grit as they want, when they want it. I put it in a little dish in the coop.
Don't worry if it doesn't go down very fast - they don't need very much.
2007-03-14 08:20:01 · answer #8 · answered by Helena 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey there,
Here http://www.downloadita.it/r/rd.asp?gid=421 you can find a step by step process to build your own chicken coop.
Good Bye
2014-08-10 15:27:21 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't give mine any. They are free range and their food is supposed to contain all the necessary requirements for making hard shells
2007-03-14 01:54:38 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋