If they have a gravel driveway to peck at, or a sand pit with lots of small rocks, then they should be okay, but I sprinkle chick grit for my little baby chicks to make sure they definitely get it. Older birds usually find lots of rocks, but we have a lot of rocks and gravel around here. Recently I have butchered a few birds, and their gizzards were full of small rocks from where they were eating the rocks from the sand we have near the garden.

ewwwwl and people eat gizzards?

Even when my chicks get out in their tractor everyday, I make sure they have grit available to them. That way there's no question as to whether they need it or not. I use playground sand (you can buy it at Lowe's, Home Depot, and many feed stores for a couple bucks). I also use the sand mixed with DE to make a "hole" for them to take a dust bath in.

P.S. Sundae, NW Iowa, eh? We have a cabin on Lake Okoboji and I lived in Algona years ago. Love it up there in that area!

My free range flock never needs grit, they get it from the dirt in the yard. Perhaps your mom is thinking of oyster shell, which provides calcium.

Velvet ~:>