Grit for Chickens
Why Hens Need It and How to Provide It
Understanding why chickens need grit is an important part of keeping a healthy flock. Because hens don’t have teeth, they rely on grit in their gizzard to grind down food. Without it, digestion becomes inefficient, and birds can quickly run into problems. There are two main types of poultry grit: flint (insoluble) grit for digestion, and oystershell (soluble) grit for calcium and strong eggshells. Both play different roles, and most flocks benefit from having access to each.
Flint or Insoluble Grit
Chickens don’t have teeth — apparently they’re very rare — so instead they use a strong muscular organ called the gizzard to grind their food. As hens forage, they naturally pick up small stones and grit, which stay in the gizzard for a while and act like tiny grinding tools.
If your birds are truly free‑range, they may find enough grit on their own. But most of us don’t have the space or predator security to allow hens to roam widely, so providing grit to hens becomes essential.
Flint (or insoluble) grit is inexpensive and widely available from pet shops, farm stores, and online suppliers. It lasts a long time, and hens will take only what they need.
Oystershell or Soluble Grit
To produce strong eggshells, hens need a steady supply of calcium. Most of an eggshell is made from calcium carbonate, and modern layers pellets already contain a balanced amount. However, offering oystershell grit separately is still a good idea — it allows hens to regulate their own intake, especially high‑production hybrids that lay a large number of eggs on relatively little feed.
If you can’t find oystershell grit locally, baked, crushed eggshells work just as well. Simply dry them in the oven for 10 minutes and crush them before mixing them into your grit hopper.
Buying Grit Online
Although grit is heavy, small bags last a long time and are easy to store. If you can’t find what you need locally, it’s still possible to buy both flint and oystershell grit online.
Grit Hoppers and How to Use Them
Grit containers come in all shapes and sizes, but as long as they don't tip over and keep the grit dry, they should work.
Galvanised grit hoppers are a great long‑term option — they cost a little more initially but will last for years. Place the hopper somewhere sheltered so rain can’t fill it, and keep it topped up with a 50/50 mix of flint grit and oystershell so hens can choose what they need.
Summary:
In a nutshell...
Flint (insoluble) grit → is essential for hens to grind their food down in the gizzard to ensure good digestion
Oystershell (soluble) grit → provides calcium for strong eggshells. They may get enough from layers pellets but if they need more, they will eat Oystershell grit.
Next Steps
Once you’ve got grit sorted, it’s worth looking at the other essentials that keep your hens healthy and productive. Good nutrition, clean water, and a well‑designed run that allows some time to free range all work together to support strong digestion and reliable egg production. If you’re planning your feeding routine, choosing the right feed, or improving your overall setup, the guides below will help you take the next steps.