How to Feed Chickens Grit & Oyster Shells
Chickens that are kept indoors without the ability to "scratch" about the yard must have grit in their diet. This is because chickens have no teeth. When chickens are outside, they are able to pick up and eat tiny stones that help to grind up food and digest it in the stomach. Oyster shells in a chicken's diet help to provide the calcium needed by laying hens to produce healthy eggs. There are a few ways to ensure your fowl will eat the required grit and oyster shells.
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Instructions
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Mix the necessary grit and oyster shells with your chicken's regular grain. Smaller chickens such as Bantams usually eat 2 to 3 ounces of food per day, while larger chickens such as Leghorns can consume up to 6 ounces. A good combination is to mix 5 ounces of grit and 5 ounces of oyster shells per 16 ounces of grain. It is also a good idea to offer this mixture in a hanging feeder and not a pan, as they won't be able to scratch the grain in a hanging feeder and separate it from the grit and oyster shells. Grinding the oyster shells into powder before mixing it with the grain also helps.
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Place shiny objects in a pan along with the grit and oyster shells. This is another way to get the chicken to eat the grit if it doesn't take it from a hanging feeder. Natural curiosity causes chickens to peck instinctively not only at each other, but also at anything shiny. When they peck at the object in the pan they will also scoop up the grit and oyster shells. Marbles are good to use as they are shiny but not small enough for the chicken to accidentally ingest.
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Offer free-style feeding. Instead of offering the oyster shells and grit at certain times throughout the day, keep it available to your fowl all day long so they may consume it as needed.
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Comments
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very helpful I just luv chickens
