How large are teh pebbles that you feed chickens for food digestion in their gizzard?
Question by Raphael M: How large are teh pebbles that you feed chickens for food digestion in their gizzard?
And at what time do you feed these chickens the pebbles? What are the best methods for fedding them these pebbles?
Can you help? Leave your own answer in the comments!
4 Responses to How large are teh pebbles that you feed chickens for food digestion in their gizzard?
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If the chickens run around outside they will find their own rocks to eat.
Brian W
May 20, 2011 at 3:07 pm
they usually buy crushed sea shells for chickens,it helps them crush their food and supplys them with calcium for bone growth and egg shell production.
hasicit
May 20, 2011 at 4:05 pm
The pebbles you are talking about is grit. Grit is sold in almost all feed stores, and should be sold at pet stores too. The best kind of grit is the mixes of charcoal, granite, and crushed oyster shells. The grit I give my birds also has a pink mineral coating called PVM powder. Although it isn’t necessary, this will give your birds the vitamins and minerals they need, that their feed might not provide them. If they are free range chickens, they don’t need grit because they can find it on their own.
Anytime you have food available, you need to have grit available too. If you feed the chickens from some type of bowl, pan, or feeder, put a small pile of grit beside the feed in a separate bowl, or in the same feeder if you want. If you feed your chickens like I do, by just pouring a scoop of food on the ground in the pin, then you can just pour a little grit on the ground beside it, or put it in a bowl – it’s all up to you how you provide it. Since the grit is essential for grinding hard food like seeds and corn, grit should always be there, remember that and you’ll be fine :]
As far as how big they are, most grit will be labled what it is for. Usually it will say ‘for chickens’ or something like that on the bag. It shouldn’t be too big, or too small. When you look at it, you should be able to tell the difference between the two. If you still aren’t sure, just ask someone who works there and they should know.
Hope I helped!
– Becky
Avian Queen
May 20, 2011 at 5:03 pm
Chickens should be allowed to wander around in a dirt area. This can be completely fenced and even have a top on it to keep birds of prey like hawks and eagles out, but in the dirt the chickens will find the grit that they need. This is usually sand or small pebbles. If you do not let your chickens out of the hen house then you will need to supply them with grit. This can be purchased at any farm feed store. Also they like scratch. This is a combo of corn and other grains. It does not necessarily have the nutritional value you want for them tho. So should only be used in combination with chicken pellets or mash. You may also want to give them oyster shell. This is in a crushed form and is also available at the feed store. It helps in the formation of their eggs as it is calcium. The best way to make sure that they get what they need is to consult with the feed store and ask what is in their feed. ie: oyster shell, grit, etc. Otherwise, if you buy it separately, it is best to mix it all in a large covered barrel together and just throw it out to them. They will then pick what they want.
onedrin
May 20, 2011 at 5:20 pm