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?

3 comments

3 Comments

jamiesingh1mo agoTop Commenter

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.

walker.rowan9d ago

Totally agree with @jamiesingh, same thing happened here!

the_mary1mo agoOG Member

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?