![]() It travels as far as the gizzard, where it goes to work. Insoluble grit on the other hand is used as a digestive supplement. ![]() Egg laying hens will require greater amounts than hens that lay only a couple of eggs per week. Some hens will need more calcium than others. Most of it goes to egg production, but some will go towards building strong bones, enhancing the immune system and aiding cardiovascular health. It is broken down into calcium and carbonate and shuttled to where it is most needed by the circulatory system. The soluble grit is absorbed slowly through the hen’s intestine. Critically low levels can lead to bone fractures, usually of the legs or feet from jumping or flying up to the perch. Low levels of calcium impact the quality of the egg shells. It is used as a preventative and supportive nutritional supplement. Soluble grit, like oyster shell, is used to supplement calcium levels in the hen’s body. If their eggs are thin and crack easily then you should give them some extra calcium. If the crop is full, squishy, or boggy then she is heading for sour crop.Īn easy way to tell if they are getting enough soluble grit is by checking their egg shells. If you are concerned then you can check their crop first thing in the morning. This means food is not being digested in their crop and it can lead to sour crop and impacted crop. When a hen does not get enough grit they will start to get a boggy crop. It can be hard to tell if your hen has enough grit but one way to tell is by their crop. If your hens have access to natural grit then they will help themselves as and when they need to by eating small pebbles and other small rocks.Ī container of insoluble grit should be offered to your chickens as well just in case they cannot get enough from natural sources. If you let your chickens free range and they do not have access to grit then they can suffer from problems such as crop impaction or constipation. If chickens are only fed commercial feed then they should not need insoluble grit as this feed is easily broken down into a paste with natural saliva and water.Ĭhickens that are allowed to free range or are given treats, will need grit to help break down some of the tougher things they eat such as plant matter, mealworms, bugs etc. This is a question that has been debated a lot recently. Insoluble grit is made from finely ground flint or granite. Leave them to cool and then crush them into small pieces. You should wash used shells and bake them in a low heat oven for twenty minutes. You can also make your own calcium by crushing egg shells. These shells are ground down into a manageable size for a chicken to eat and are basically calcium carbonate. Soluble chicken grit is normally made from oyster shell or other seashells. When chickens eat insoluble grit it lodges in the gizzard where it helps them to grind down food other than chicken feed into a paste consistency that is easily digested. This type of grit is important as it helps chickens digest their food. It is called insoluble because it does not dissolve in water. The second type of grit is called insoluble grit and this is either flint or granite. It should not be given to chickens that are not yet laying as they will not need it until they start to lay. Oyster shell should be offered to them as a free choice supplement.Ĭalcium not only helps with their egg shells it will also strengthen their bones. Although commercial feed does have soluble grit in it, some chickens may require more. This is given to chickens to help them lay strong-shelled eggs. Soluble grit can be either oyster shell or mineral grit. However, soil types and environments differ, so it's best to provide grit as a free choice for your flock.Chicken grit actually comes in two forms. If your flock free ranges, they typically find natural grit like rocks and sand suitable in helping their digestion. For instance, turkeys use much larger grit than baby chickens to digest their food. Grit is available in various sizes to accommodate the age of your flock and various poultry types. This can include things like treats, mealworms, grasses, and other foraged finds. When Should You Provide Your Flock Grit?Ĭommon practice is to provide grit to your flock when they begin to eat food other than their regular feed. Insufficient grit, either foraged for naturally or provided free choice, can result in things like crop impaction and sour crop. Without teeth, food travels to their gizzard where it is digested along with small insoluble materials, like rocks, to break the food down into a digestible paste your chicken's body can absorb. Grit is insoluble and has no nutritional value for your flock, but is an important aid in helping chickens digest their food.
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