Re: Just starting out - grit

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

Date: Sat, 26 Jun 2004 20:21:04 +0100

In message
<ufafnjCzmb3AFw2g@the-samurai-in-autumn.kitschcamppalace.org.uk>,
Stephen M Baines <stephen@the-samurai-in-autumn.kitschcamppalace.org.uk>
writes
>Previously, Krys Francis <krys@lluestfarmpoultry.co.uk> wrote
>>In message <Qg$g4+BkvU3AFwjq@the-samurai-in-autumn.kitschcamppalace.org
>
>>>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 are going to be fed layers, but we've read a paper by David Bland
>that says that it is actually dangerous to the chicken to give them too
>much calcium beyond what is in the layers as it upsets the
>calcium/phosphorus balance giving them poor shells, leg weaknesses and
>partial paralysis.

I can see what you're saying. That's why I think that calcified seaweed
is a better way of giving calcium (correct calcium/phosphorus ratio),
then give grit separate. But if you can't get grit without the shells
it's difficult. I have heard but don't know for a fact that the birds
will take what they need. What David Bland has written does seem to
imply otherwise doesn't it? Hmmm, looking in books... I see that
Victoria Roberts (a poultry vet) recommends feeding mixed grit
(oystershell & mixed grit) once birds are 10 weeks on page 51 of her
book Diseases of Free Range Poultry. So, presuming that she would know;
I would have thought that it's probably OK. Sorry that I can't be of
more help. Good luck:-)
>
>>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.
>
>The feed already has the calcium in it - we're not trying to give them
>more. We're just not getting any choice of whether to give them more or
>not locally - all the grit that's stocked locally has oyster shell in
>it whether we want it or not. 

-- 
Krys Francis

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