GRIT FOR POULTRY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 482, 13 July 1912, Page 3

GRIT FOR POULTRY.

Exaccly what function is performed by grit in the gizzard of the fowl is not clearly understood. No one who studied the digestive organs of the fowl or has kept close watch on her actual grit consumption, must believe very positively that grit is utilised solely for grinding. In fact ic is hard to see how grit can grind at all. But whatever its function it does seem to be necessary to the health of the fowl under some conditions.

The practical feeder has found, however, that if his hens i have all they oyster shell they want they will eat very little grit of any other sort. For nine months in the year laying hens will often touch no grit except shell, and it ic doubtful if there is anything to be gained by supplying it. Some careful experiments, however, have indicated that in the late autumn and early winter, hens that will not touch grit at any other time will cunsume it rather freely, and probably it is wise to supply it at that time. Oyster shell should be supplied freely all the year round, unless the fowls have access to some other source of lime. Crushed limestone or ordinary lime answers very well, but it is not certain that fowls in heavy laying can get all the lime they need for their shells from this source. It is an error to suppose, because 'he hens are not laying soft shelled eggs, that they are getting all the lime they need. Some experiments have shown that instead of laying thin shelled eggs when the supply of lime ran short, the number of eggs had decreased and their size and weight had also reduced, and it is only by keeping an accurate record of eggs laid, and their weights, that one is able to determine the exact result of a scarcity of lime. Since oyster shell is very cheap and easily secured, there is no excuse for taking any chance in the matter. Keep it on hand all the time; there is not the slightest danger of the fowls eating more than they nted.