Chicken Extras 101: Grit, Oyster Shell, Coop DRY & Diatomaceous Earth

Raising chickens isn’t just about feed and fresh water—there are a few essential extras that help support their health, digestion, and overall comfort. Whether you’re new to backyard chickens or a seasoned poultry keeper, understanding the role of supplements like grit, oyster shell, Stall DRY, and diatomaceous earth can elevate your flock’s well-being.

Let’s break down what each of these additions does and why your chickens might need them.

Grit: The Chickens' Internal Teeth

Chickens don’t have teeth, so they rely on grit—small, insoluble stones—to grind food in their gizzard. Grit is essential for proper digestion, especially if your chickens eat whole grains, kitchen scraps, or forage freely.

Key Points:

• Grit is not the same as oyster shell.

• Offer it free-choice in a separate dish.

• Necessary for all chickens that don’t eat only commercial crumbles or pellets.

Pro tip: Grit comes in different sizes, be sure to get the right size for your birds. 

Crushed Oyster Shell: Strong Eggshell Support

Laying hens require extra calcium to produce strong, healthy eggshells. Oyster shell is a slow-release calcium supplement that hens will eat as needed.

Key Points:

• Helps prevent thin or soft eggshells.

• Offer it free-choice—hens will self-regulate.

• Do not mix oyster shell into the feed, especially if you have non-laying birds (roosters or young pullets).

Why it matters: Inadequate calcium can lead to egg-binding, shell-less eggs, or poor egg quality. We also have a double duty grit with calcium added as an alternative option to Oyster shells. 

Fresh Coop Odor Control : Moisture & Odor Control in the Coop

Fresh Coop Odour Control is a mineral-based absorbent brings together natural ingredients like Diatomaceous Earth, Calcium Montmorillonite, and NON-GMO Citric Acid to help keep your chicken coop fresh. It works by reducing ammonia smells, controlling odors, and soaking up excess moisture. Perfect for your backyard flock, whether you're raising chickens, quail, ducks, turkeys, pigeons, or pheasants - it's a simple solution for a cleaner, more pleasant coop environment.

It's designed to reduce moisture, ammonia odors, and bacterial growth in coops, runs, and nesting areas.

Key Points:

• Sprinkle under bedding to absorb excess moisture and odors.

• Helps control flies and bacteria.

• Creates a drier, healthier environment for your flock.

Bonus: When you clean out your coop, apply a little Fresh Coop to the floor of the run before putting bedding on top to help extend your bedding. Or sprinkle on top when needed. 

🌿 Diatomaceous Earth (DE): Pest Control Powerhouse

Food-grade diatomaceous earth is a natural, fine powder made from fossilized algae. It works by dehydrating soft-bodied pests like mites, lice, and fleas.

How to use it:

• Dust bath areas: Mix with sand and soil where chickens bathe.

• Bedding: Lightly sprinkle in nesting boxes and coop bedding.

• Feed (optional): Some owners mix a small amount into feed for possible internal parasite control, though evidence is mixed.

Important: Always use food-grade DE, not pool-grade, which is toxic to animals. We also have pre mixed Fresh Coop Dust Bath add it into a shallow pan for your birds to use at their leisure. 

Grubs: High-Protein Treats Chickens Love

Dried black soldier fly larvae, often marketed as “grubs,” are a protein-packed treat your chickens will go wild for. Not only are they tasty and natural, but they also offer valuable nutrients that support feather health, egg production, and immune function.

Key Benefits:

• High in protein and calcium—great for laying hens.

• Encourages natural foraging behavior.

• Can be used to train or get your flock back into the coop.

Feeding Tip: Offer grubs as a treat (no more than 10% of the diet) to avoid throwing off the nutritional balance of their regular feed.

Grubs are also an eco-friendly choice—most are sustainably raised on food waste, making them a responsible snack for your birds and the planet.

 Wrapping It Up: Do Your Extras Work Overtime?

Some of these chicken “extras” aren’t just optional—they're often the unsung heroes of flock management. Providing grit and oyster shell supports digestion and egg health, while products like Fresh Coop, Dust Bath and diatomaceous earth help maintain a clean, parasite-free coop.

When used correctly, these simple additions can significantly improve your chickens’ health, egg production, and overall comfort.