Re: Just starting out - grit

From: Krys Francis (krys_at_lluestfarmpoultry.co.uk)
Date: 06/26/04 

Date: Sat, 26 Jun 2004 16:36:37 +0100

In message
<Qg$g4+BkvU3AFwjq@the-samurai-in-autumn.kitschcamppalace.org.uk>,
Stephen M Baines <stephen@the-samurai-in-autumn.kitschcamppalace.org.uk>
writes
>Hi,
>
>We're getting our first chickens in the next week or so, and have been
>reading around a lot. One thing we are really struggling with - grit.
>
>We've read that the chickens need grit - fare enough. We've also read
>in some places to avoid grit that has oyster shell in. We can't find
>it. We've just come back from several animal feed places around here
>(NW Leics/Derbyshire borders, UK) and they only seem to stock "Mixed
>Grit" which says it's either flint & oyster shell or mixed flint and
>"soft calcium".
>
>Is mixed grit a problem when feeding layers pellets? We're only getting
>4 hens, and they're having a fairly wide area to play around.

Our local farmer's co-op stocks both hen & chick sized flint grit, I
don't suppose that the flint grit with soft calcium will do any harm as
long as it's being fed to layers & not to growers. They should pick out
what they need. Personally I'd not bother with the oyster shell, a sack
of calcified seaweed is probably better value & it contains a good
proportion of calcium & phosphorus as well as other minerals. 

-- 
Krys Francis

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