Avigrain Fine Shell Grit 20kg Calcium & Digestive Grit for Birds & Poultry

Avigrain Fine Shell Grit 20kg: Calcium and Digestive Grit for Birds and Poultry

Avigrain Fine Shell Grit is a natural shell grit for birds and poultry that does two important jobs at once. It's a valuable source of calcium for strong eggshells and healthy bones, and it also works as digestive grit, helping birds grind and break down their food. Adding shell grit to a bird's diet is a simple, important part of keeping them healthy, and this 20kg bag is an economical size for backyard flocks and aviaries.

Because birds don't have teeth, seed and grain-eating birds swallow food whole and rely on grit in the gizzard to grind it down so they can digest it properly. At the same time, the shell provides calcium that laying hens draw on heavily for eggshells, and that all birds need for bone strength. A shortfall in calcium is common in seed and grain diets, and can show up as thin or soft eggshells.

The fine grade suits smaller and younger birds, including chicks, finches, canaries and small poultry, with coarser grades generally suiting larger, older birds.

Key Features & Benefits

• Natural shell grit for birds and poultry

• Provides calcium for strong eggshells and healthy bones

• Works as digestive grit to help grind food in the gizzard

• Fine grade, suited to smaller and younger birds

• Helps address the calcium shortfall common in seed and grain diets

• Offered free-choice in a separate dish

• Economical 20kg bag

How to Use

• Offer the shell grit in a separate dish, so birds can help themselves as they need it

• Keep the dish topped up and refresh it regularly

• Position it where it won't be fouled by droppings from perches above

• Provide the fine grade to chicks, small birds and young poultry, moving to coarser grit as birds grow

• Always provide fresh, clean water alongside

Getting the Best From It

• Offer grit free-choice rather than mixing it through feed, so birds take what they need

• Match the grit size to the bird: fine for small and young birds, coarser for larger, older birds

• It's especially important for laying hens, whose calcium demand is high through the laying season

• Note that hookbills like parrots and budgies (which shell their seed) need little or no insoluble grit, though all birds still benefit from a calcium source

• Keep the dish clean and dry, and replace any grit that gets soiled

FAQs

Why do birds need shell grit?
It provides calcium for strong eggshells and bones, and it acts as digestive grit in the gizzard to help grind food, since birds don't have teeth to break food down.

What size birds is the fine grade for?
Fine shell grit suits smaller and younger birds, including chicks, finches, canaries and small poultry. Larger, older birds generally do better on a coarser grit.

How do I offer it?
Put it in a separate dish and let birds eat it free-choice, keeping it topped up and refreshed. Position it away from where droppings can foul it.

Do laying hens need it?
Yes. Laying hens have a high calcium demand for eggshells, so a free-choice shell grit is especially important for them.

Do parrots and budgies need grit?
Hookbills that shell their seed need little or no insoluble grit, but they still benefit from the calcium a shell grit provides.

Where can I buy Avigrain Fine Shell Grit in Australia?
Order online for delivery across Australia, or pick up in-store at Bonnyrigg, NSW. Delivery options for the 20kg bag are shown at checkout.