Chickens need grit to help with their digestion. They need it freely available as soon as they are eating anything other than chick crumb. In most cases they need access as soon as they are out of the brooder.
There are lots of products marketed as grit, but what does your flock actually need? What is a suitable grit and at what age do they need it? This guide is here to help you work out what is what in terms of grit.
What is chicken grit?
There are two types of poultry grit:
1. Insoluble grit which is tiny ground up pieces of stone such as granite or flint. This can be given to adult chickens. Chick grit is the same insoluble grit made of ground up pieces of granite of flint, the only difference being that for baby chicks it is ground more finely.
Or
2. Oyster shell grit which is small pieces of oyster shells. Technically this isn’t grit, but more of a calcium supplement.
Natural grit or ‘homemade’ grit would be small stones, small rocks or pebbles that free range chickens find. Effectively their own grit.
Why do chickens need grit?
Chickens need grit to help in their digestive system. Chickens have no teeth. The way that they break down food is using their gizzard. Their gizzard contains the grit as well as enzymes that work together to help with digestion. When the gizzard contracts the walls of the muscle breakdown the food that the chickens eat. A lack of grit would mean that the gizzard cannot work effectively and the chickens will not be able to digest their food.
What are the differences between oyster shell grit, insoluble grit and chick grit?
The main types of grit and their key differences are as follows:
Oyster shell grit
Oyster shell grit is given to adult chickens, laying birds, to ensure that the eggs they lay have strong eggshells. This grit is high in calcium carbonate, this extra calcium is just what laying hens need. The grit should be given alongside a good quality layer feed The grit in oyster shells is soluble, so it is absorbed through the chickens digestive system. Even if, like us, your birds are free ranging and have access to nature’s bounty of stones, pebbles, insects, worms and plants it is still a good idea to provide oyster shell grit. In all honesty my hens do not consume much of it, but it gives me peace of mind to know that if they need it, it’s available to them. This kind of grit does not help with digestion.
Insoluble grit or flint grit
This is the grit that helps with digestion. By it’s very nature this is natural grit as it consists of naturally occurring stones and pebbles. Many grits available on the market actually contain both insoluble flint grit AND soluble oyster shell grit. Meaning that a lot of products available naturally contain both types of grit.
Chick grit
This is a very finely ground up form of insoluble grit that can be given to very young birds, usually up to around 6 to 8 weeks of age. It can be given alongside chick crumble or chick crumb. Whilst chicks are on a diet of only chick crumb they don’t need to have grit. This is because chick crumb is designed to be immediately soluble and they gizzard is not required to break down chick crumb. But as soon as they start eating anything else they will need grit to help with digestion. It is a good idea to have a small tray of chick grit available to baby chicks.
Can chickens have too much grit?
Generally speaking chickens cannot have too much grit. I make it available to them all the time, so that they have a free choice to consume the grit when they need it. Of course there may be a case when chickens consume too much, but this has never happened in my experience. As long as your chickens have a balanced diet and free access to grit they should be able to self manage their needs.
Do you mix grit with chicken food?
No. I would always provide chicken feed separately to free-choice grit. Chickens can decide for themselves how much grit they need. If it is mixed in with their food they may end up eating more grit. If the grit is oyster shell grit, there would be a risk of feeding them too much calcium if it were mixed in with their food. I provide a separate bowl alongside their food.
What happens if you don’t give them grit/how long can they go without grit?
Without grit their digestive tract will be negatively impacted. However if the hens free range they are likely to find their own form of grit. Tiny rocks are found in most soils, and as chickens peck they will find these tiny rocks and store them in their gizzards appropriately. Also once in the tiny rocks will wear down and be
How can they get grit naturally?
Through their natural foraging behaviours. Backyard chicken keepers that allow their chickens to peck and roam freely will have chickens that can manage their own grit intake. Small stones and pebble found in the soil are a natural type of grit.
Do chickens need grit if they are outside?
It depends on what ground they have access to outside. If they have access to soil that contains small stones then they can find their own grit.
Can I give them homemade grit?
To me homemade grit is just chickens displaying their natural behaviours and foraging for worms and bugs and at the same time finding tiny rocks and pebbles to consume. Therefore rather than giving them homemade grit I simply let my chickens make their own grit themselves by allowing them to be free-range chickens.
Do they need grit if they have sand?
Sand is not an alternative to grit. Sand is very fine, it can get stuck in the crop and cause problems such as sour crop. Remember grit is needed to grind food, sand is too small to do this grinding in the gizzard.
Are eggshells grit for chickens?
Eggshells are not grit for chickens. Eggshells are a form of calcium which helps them lay firm shelled eggs. Think of it like a form of oyster shells that you can provide for free! Having said that, eggshells, like oyster shells, can perform the function of grit in the digestive tract of the chicken. The difference with eggshells is that they are soluble, so over time they will start to be absorbed by the body within the digestive system.
This article summarizes the different types of grit available, the use of grit as a good source of calcium and the types of grit for different ages of chickens. Beginning with chick grit for baby birds, then the use of insoluble grit for adult birds as soon as they are off chick crumb and oyster shell grit as a dietary supplement for laying hens.
What is your experience with grit, do your chickens find it for themselves? Do they consume a lot or a little of what you provide for them? I would love to hear in the comments below.