What Is Grit for Chickens and Why Do They Need It?
What is grit and why is it important to our chicken’s health? Let’s cover everything you need to know about this important topic.
What is Grit?
Chicken grit, or just “grit” is made of small stones, pebbles, tiny rocks, or ground up rocks. It is usually made from hard stones like granite or quartz. It plays a crucial role in healthy digestion in chickens.
Why do Chickens Need Grit?
Chickens do not have teeth and can’t grind up things using their mouth. They swallow small pebbles, aka grit, which sit in their crop and gizzard. See the photo below from the University of Kansas.
When chickens swallow grain, grass, bugs, etc, all the grit pebbles grind together and process the food so it can easily pass through their digestive tract into their small intestines and they are able to absorb the nutrients.
Eventually, the pieces of grit will pass through their system, which is why they have to continue to eat grit throughout their lives.
What are the Different Types of Poultry Grit?
Grit can be made from different types of stone. Some grits have added minerals or probiotics.
There is chick grit, which comes in a smaller pieces, adult chicken grit, and also combination grit that works for chicks and adults. I’ll cover the different types of grit (types of stone, chick vs adult grit, etc.) in greater detail below.
What is Grit Made From?
You’ll often find insoluble grit made from granite. Insoluable means that means that the grit can’t be digested, so you don’t have to worry about your birds getting too much of particular mineral or other substance from the grit itself. It will sit in their crop, grinding up food, until eventually it will pass through their system.
They also make grit out of quartzite. Cherry Stone grit for example is made from quartzite. They advertise that quartz has sharper edges than granite, which makes it more efficient in grinding up feed in the chicken’s crop. Wether this is true or not I can’t say. Honestly I doubt it makes too big a difference. We just buy whatever is on hand.
Can Chickens Get Grit Naturally?
Yes absolutely. Chickens will pick up little bits of stone, pebbles, etc. from around the yard and driveway. These work perfectly as a natural grit. We have a gravel driveway with a lot of little stones so they easily find their own grit. Still, we do offer it free choice for them in case they want it.
In the winter when the snow covers any rocks and pebbles they might pick up, we make sure they have a ready supply they can eat whenever they want.
If your chickens are in a yard, coop, etc. where they can’t scrounge around free range, they will need grit available all the time.
How Should Grit Be Fed to Chickens?
We offer free access to grit for our feathered friends. We have a feed pan that we pour some in and keep it tucked away in a corner of the coop so it doesn’t get too much bedding scratched into it. In the summer I will just scatter a few handfuls around the farmyard for them to find.
If you want add supplemental grit directly into their chicken feed this is also an option. Take a look at the back of the bag of grit you purchased for instructions on best practices for adding it in.
Do Chicks Need Grit?
We do not offer grit to our baby chicks and haven’t had issues. Some people do provide it after they are a week old or so.
Our young birds are integrated into the main flock around six weeks of age, then they have access to grit. We haven’t seen any digestive issues going this route, but if certainly can offer it to chicks. It’s a good idea to make sure it is specifically chick grit or on the bag says it can be used for chicks and adults.
How Much Does Grit Cost?
A fifty pound bag of grit costs about $10. We keep a flock of around thirty chickens. A bag of that size, figuring in they are outside for about eight months out of the year, will last us two to three years.
Is Grit Different then Oyster Shells?
Yes. While oyster shells can serve to do a little bit of grinding, they will break apart more quickly than stone. Grit aids the chicken’s digestive system, whereas oyster shells are used as a calcium supplement to ensure you will get strong eggshells.
Most layer rations include a sufficient amount of calcium for a balanced diet, but if you are seeing weak egg shells then you might have a calcium deficiency. Consider changing up their feed or offering free choice oyster shell grit along with their regular stone grit.
Where Can I Buy Grit?
Thankfully grit can be easily purchased at most farm supply stores. Our local Fleet Farm carries both a standard pebble/stone grit for $10 a bag.
What Happens if Chickens Don’t Get Enough Grit?
Grit is so important in a chicken’s diet as it breaks down food and allows them to better absorb nutrients.
Chickens who don’t get enough of this dietary supplement might suffer from something called “sour crop”.
This happens when food can’t break down sufficiently in their crop and it just sits there. It can begin to ferment and even rot. Flies or bugs swallowed get trapped in there and can lay eggs which will result in maggots.
It can be fatal for laying hens and is a very unpleasant way to go. Make sure your chickens have grit available and you can avoid this issue.
Final Thoughts
Whether you have backyard chickens or a large free range flock like ours, grit is an essential part of a chicken’s diet. Getting the right size grit and offering it along with a high-quality feed is a great way to ensure happy birds, healthy egg production, and a happy coop.
I hope to have answered all the common questions you might have about grit, but please comment below if I left anything out.
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