SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/chick-grit

Why do chickens need grit?

Grit helps chickens grind feed in the gizzard.

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  1. To sharpen beaks
  2. To lay eggs
  3. To grind feed in the gizzard ✔

Why: Chickens have no teeth. Small stones and grit sit in the gizzard and grind grains and fibrous foods into digestible pieces.

Huh, didn't know that: Birds that can reach the ground usually find enough small stones, but confined birds need grit offered.

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Why do chickens eat tiny rocks? They have gizzard instincts.
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References

Answer: To grind feed in the gizzard. Chickens have no teeth. Small stones and grit sit in the gizzard and grind grains and fibrous foods into digestible pieces.

  1. Oregon State University Extension: How to Feed Your Laying Hens (PNW 477) extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/documents/pnw477.pdf
    When feeding scratch, also provide an insoluble grit so the birds can grind and digest the grains properly.
    Checked 2026-10-11.
  2. University of Minnesota Extension: Caring for Chickens in Cold Weather extension.umn.edu/agriculture/animals-and-livestock/poultry/caring-for-chickens-in-cold-weather
    Grit helps the chickens break down feed for digestion.
    Checked 2026-10-11.

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