Why is grit considered absolutely necessary for Wyandotte chickens?
Answer
Chickens lack teeth and need small stones to grind food in their gizzard.
Grit serves a purely mechanical function in the digestive system of poultry because chickens do not possess teeth capable of chewing food thoroughly before swallowing. Grit, which consists of small stones or insoluble material, is ingested and stored in the gizzard, where muscular action grinds the swallowed feed against these stones. This grinding action is necessary to properly break down the feed particles, allowing for optimal nutrient extraction and efficient feed conversion. If birds are confined and lack access to natural foraging areas for grit, keepers must supply it.
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