[chickychick]

Hi
I just went and bought a 25kg sack of osterea( erm ok cant spell that ) but its the oyster shell stuff.

 I was all set to buy other chicken grit too, but the woman said they dont do any other grit and I didnt need anything but oyster grit.  This is an animal feed wholesaler near me, they specialise in horse feed I think.

My chickens are fed on layers pellets with a little extra corn and greens and have a good sized area to dig about in...mind you the woman in the shop didnt even ask me any of that.

I seem to remember that this is not what the advice is on here so can someone clarify or tell me do I still need to buy other grit and what am I looking for? can I get it at a builders merchant/ebay or what?

[GrannieAnnie]

Have a look on the bag chicky, OESTRA is oyster shell normally, not oyster grit.  Are you sure its not oyster shell AND grit?  But they will need some grit too, have a read of Munty's link here if you haven't already seen it!  Its good!

http://www.chat.allotment-garden.org/viewtopic.php?t=1688

[Aunt Sally]

Chcikens don't have teeth (yes... hens teeth are really rare) so chooks as can't chew their food,  they will swallow stones (grit) to pass through with the feed and do the grinding for them in their gizzard.  

If your hens eat layers pellets all the time as their complete diet the will have enough grit and calcium in the pellets.  If they free range and are not ONLY eating pellets they will need extra grit and oyster shell.  If you can't find poultry grit any small stones will do, like the type you put in greenhouse trays for drainage.  Oyster shell ONLY supplies calcium and is dissolved in the chickens gut and, therefore, not available for grinding food.

[chickychick]

the bag says OSTREA GRIT it also talks abut calcium and it being important for eggs etc.

It is all white flake type hard pieces not pieces of little stones which is what I would have expected of grit.

what kind of size stones do they use for grit, are we talking pin head size or pea sized ?

[muntjac]

ok grit is tip of a retractable pen top sized .go to a tropical fish supliers and ask for p[lain ballast grit that is used for the bottom of a fish tank this contains quartz and other stone.perfect size for the chucks .ask for a stone 14lbs or 6 kilos this will do for about 5 yrs with 10 birds cost about £4 i should say

[GrannieAnnie]

Think this is it, is it a Dodson and Horrell make?

Ostrea - Oystershell Grit

The best Calcium Addition for Chicken Food, that produces top quality eggshells that are more saleable. The Oystershell is washed, dried, heated, crushed & screened. The Oyster Shell is also Microbiologically Sterile.

Calcium min: 38% Sand (i.e. ash) max: 2%

tiny stones aunty means, like there are in the garden, but a bag of grit now and then will be good, just keep your eyes open.  I'm surprised its not more readily availble in your area, even our petfood shops sell some!

[chickychick]

thanks for all this info yes this is the stuff I have grannieannie.

I will go to the aquarium shop and get grit as described by muntjac.

thankyou VERY much everyone .. dont know where I would have been without this forum ..my poor old chickens would have been in a very sorry state.

interesting the amount of grit that it seems I need too

I bought a sack full 25kg of the ostrea stuff and I only have four chickens am I right in thinking this will last for ever and ever and ever........... ?

[GrannieAnnie]

with 4 chickens?  YEP  for ever and ever and ever and.........

[si-mate]

There is a company that makes grits for birds - if you can find a store that stock them. They make grits in different sizes all the way up from caged bird to turkeys.

[GrannieAnnie]

Our local place sells it, but they are in spalding, a bit far for chicky to come!!!

What we need is to find you someone to send it to you with free delivery!!!!