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I read a study that says chickens don't need grit if they free range, but I'm not convinced
I was looking up some chicken care stuff online and found a research paper from a university extension program. It said that hens with full access to a varied, natural dirt yard might not need supplemental grit at all because they find enough small stones. I've always kept a grit feeder full for my six birds in Portland, thinking it was a must. The study tracked a flock for over a year and saw no digestion issues without it. But my soil is pretty clay-heavy, and I just don't see enough tiny rocks in their run. Has anyone else stopped offering grit and seen a real difference, good or bad?
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jamiesingh7mo ago
Heard about a buddy who tried skipping grit because his yard was all rocky dirt... his girls got kinda sluggish and their eggs looked off after a few months. He went right back to offering it, kinda like @the_mary said, better safe.
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walker.rowan6mo ago
Totally agree with @jamiesingh, same thing happened here!
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the_mary7mo ago
Oh man, I totally get that worry. My yard is super sandy and I still keep a dish of grit out just in case, because it feels wrong not to. Better safe than sorry with their little stomachs, you know?
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