[agingchick]

before I got my chickens I brought a small amount of pellets, corn and grit through the internet I have now found cheaper places to get the corn and pellets. A colleague of my OH who keeps chickens brings me large bags of pellets from a farm when I asked him if they sell grit he said he didn't buy that as the ground round here is full of it. At the back of our estate there are gravel pits and my garden is very, very free draining, so is he right? will there be enough in the soil for them? I have brought some limestone flour to make up for the lack of oyster shell
Diane

[Bodger]

He may very well be right. The chickens will pick up small stones and retain them in their gizzard. This is a very muscular organ and the birds use the stones to grind up their food.

[agingchick]

Thank-you bodger

[Roughlee Handled]

I have started giving my 8 girls access "Grit" and also a couple of hand fulls of builders sand in separate containers. Mine free range over 310 square metres of grass/scrub. Both are being used!!   But I am on clay.  I would say for the cost it can not harm giving them access to it.

[compostqueen]

the limestone flour is good stuff but it sounds like they'll be fine on your gritty ground