Poultry, AKA chicken grit as ballast, your opinions

I ballasted my whole 20x13 layout with it and couldn't be happier with the looks and the price.  It looks like what it is: granite, just like the real thing.  The only possible downside is you have to rinse it yourself to get rid of dust and whatever they put on it for the chicks.  Get a cheap strainer for the purpose and it's quick and easy.

If you need to do a yard, however, they don't usually have nice, thick ballast like on the main lines.  I cut strips of foamboard to be level with the tops of the ties between the tracks.  Then, I covered it all over with a mix of dirt, cinders, and a little ballast, and glued it down.  Doing it this way saved a lot of material.

Ballasting was one of the things I enjoyed most - have fun!

@third rail posted:

What is its color and is it possibly magnetic, which would exclude it from use.

While granite in general isn't magnetic, it can have strands of iron through it, those will be magnetic.  I was fascinated by this effect on a bathroom granite top, the magnetic toothbrush head would stick to it in the veins of iron.   I suspect there's not enough of the iron through it to be a big problem.  You could also just use a strong magnet and separate any magnetic material.

Thanks for the quick response.  I too have buried my tracks with foam board to the tops of the ties. So I think I won't be needing a great deal, but more than one 25 lb bag.

On a section of my layout I used blasting grit for ballast and ground cover.  I didn't like it as the blasting grit is too shiny,  kind of small for O gauge (would look better in the smaller gauges). Also it was magnetic so I had to make sure that the grit was firmly glued down.

I also tried masonry cement but that also is magnetic,  want to keep small particles away from those motors.

So I'll go with the chicken grit and if it's too bright a color I will tone it down with dirt and cinders. Also I will add black India ink to my diluted glue .

I have used a lot of Tractor Supply Chick Grit. It comes with white/gray particles which I spray painted gray because I liked the color. The track is KLine Supersnap for the mainline and plain old tubular for the yard and siding. No problems with magnetism.
Ed Kazarian

I've used the smallest size (starter grit) for sections of my layout.  I think its OK as is, or color it.  It is dusty so needs to be washed.  Its also rather angular, so if you could barrel tumble the stuff for awhile it would look more granular.   Chicken Grit on layout 

Today's lesson is that chicken grit and masonry cement can be magnetic.  Thanks guys!

Just as @ScoutingDad stated, use the smaller chicken grit meant for the baby chicks and wash it down prior as several others suggested.

I just recently bought a bag of chicken grit at Tractor Supply for ballast. When I got home, it was pink/red and not gray... not at all suitable for ballast. I am sure other brands might be, but I don't know how to tell because I can't see through the bags.

The only chicken grit that I see at Tractor Supply has "probiotics" in it.  Maybe because I'm in NJ so the need for supplies for chickens just isn't too great.  Does anyone have another possible source of the chicken (or chick) grit in NJ?

See if you can find Calcium Carbonate, Limestone, or Marble grit, either for chickens or sandblasting.  Limestone ballast would be more common than granite for a midwestern road.  It will also have far less chance of magnetic minerals, and will take a stain better than granite.

My new 2nd home is surrounded by granite rocks.

But I will need a chain-gang to make them small enough for my new layout.

Rubber ballast was an idea, does anyone still make it, or do I need to grind up old tires to get some.

I have be also told to heat home-made ballast to kill any seeds or critters living in it, so BBQ time.

Having used lots of different ballast materials, I have to say "use a commercial ballast in the size and color you find works best on your layout".  After you get done cleaning and picking through the bargain stuff its not really a bargain anymore.  I do not subscribe to the ballast vs car cost argument, but the point is if you want your layout to look its best after all the investment already sunk,  why would you cheap out on something that really draws attention?

But they are your pennies, spend them where you want to.   

I used chicken grit on my layout. Works great and can be colored with paint mixed into the glue.

Yes, chicken grit is one of several DIY alternatives that are lots of fun and can produce superlative results. Even if one doesn't care about money, many of us get great satisfaction from the clever use of simple materials--just as they did out of necessity in the old days. If there is any area where the saying "it is the journey, not the destination" applies, it is in layout building, IMO. Otherwise, you could just hire a professional to build your layout while you go on a world cruise.  ("Compared to the price of a Lionel 400E State set..." )

A note on color:  As several have said, it is very easy to color stone to any shade you decide. Washes, such as ink/alcohol mixtures often work extremely well.

I did my chicken grit ballast quite a few years ago. Chose that because I was looking for a "project". If I were to do it now, I think I would use Brennan's ballast. It would be simple, clean, and save me some time. As I have learned, there are always plenty of projects on the railroad. Also, I would be supportive of a long time Forum sponsor.

Ed Kaz

I also don't believe the " price equivalent to a boxcar" theory.  Besides the body of yard track, there are also the yard lead, runaround track and engine facility tracks that have to be ballasted. Plus the area between the tracks also will need ballast not as much as the tracks but maybe 1/3-1/4 the amount. So if a 5 pound bag at $15 will do 1 track 22 feet long and I have 9 body tracks,  that's $135 plus $45 for in between and another $60 minimum for the rest of the yard.  Looking at $240 just for ballast , doesn't include any other scenery.  More like the price of a second hand command locomotive.

I'm on a very tight budget so I'll either take my chances on chicken grit or will find another inexpensive alternative.

Here's a picture of an area that I used black blasting grit.  Also contains HO sized ballast as a gravel drive. Coated the blasting grit with several coats of flat varnish to tone down the shine.

Third rail. In my  "price equivalent to boxcar theory" as you put it, I'm specifically referencing  an order for 5 bags or 25 pounds of ballast.  I wasn't speaking directly to your yard situation but to the idea that commercial ballast is not expensive when compared to  other train related expenses. Like one's track,  it's a finite outlay as opposed to purchasing boxcars, engines, buildings etc.

Having said that, I take no issue with anyone who wants to save money wherever they can, for whatever reason. This is a hobby to be enjoyed however one wishes to approach it!

By the way, I really like your blasting grit!

I used Chicken grit on my last section of layout.    I got the size for baby chicks and it looked great.   It was crushed marble in my case not granite.    The smaller size looked most like my O scale ballast in other areas.     the only downside was it was bright white.     I sprayed it down with diluted black ink.   Mostly alcohol with a little ink.    I can't remember what the ink is called but it is the very black stuff.    A little goes a long way.    It is still lighter than my gray stuff, but not too bad.

I got 50 lbs of grit from Tractor Supply which was mostly river pebbles with fines in it, it looked close enough for my old layout, I plan on using similar on the new layout once the house is built.

If I buy chicken grit my wife will see it and insist we get baby chicks so it can be used on them *lol*. Seriously it all comes down to your budget and also what your own want and desires are. I have used clay cat litter for ballast, and it didn't work badly (I sort of 'blipped it' in a coffee grind to make it a bit smaller, it worked). When I get to the ballast phase *hah* of my layout sort of in progress, I prob will use commercial, but if the budget is tight I prob will use chicken grit or something like it, and maybe use an old trick with spray paint if I don't like the color.

@DennisB posted:

Third rail. In my  "price equivalent to boxcar theory" as you put it, I'm specifically referencing  an order for 5 bags or 25 pounds of ballast.  I wasn't speaking directly to your yard situation but to the idea that commercial ballast is not expensive when compared to  other train related expenses. Like one's track,  it's a finite outlay as opposed to purchasing boxcars, engines, buildings etc.

Having said that, I take no issue with anyone who wants to save money wherever they can, for whatever reason. This is a hobby to be enjoyed however one wishes to approach it!

By the way, I really like your blasting grit!

No offense taken.  With this hobby you can spend as much or as little as you like.  The idea is to have a little fun and show off your creativity.

BTW,  I decided to scenick the devil's strip with ordinary dirt,  I bought a bag of top soil and cooked it for an hour to sterilize it then double sifted for size. Then added some dollar store lichen and chip brush bristles for weeds.  If I am thrifty with the extraneous then I can spend a little more on specifics.

I've also been looking at using chicken grit to ballast my layout.  I ordered a 5 pound bag of chick grit from Amazon (Manna Pro brand, which also seems to be the brand carried by Tractor Supply).  Did a small test section on my layout (not glued down).  I'm torn on the color; part of me likes the more red/brown but I do think gray would also look nice.  Tried a gray/black paint wash but it only seemed to darken the ballast and didn't take away any of the red.  (The lighter gray you see is another test I did with cat litter).  Any opinions on the color of the chick grit here?

I used paver sand on my layout. With gargraves track and I like it myself. glued down very well and it was not expensive

The chicken grit I bought locally was the decomposed granite white and grey color. Looks like depending on where you live the grit may be different colors - like the granite it comes from.  I've posted different ballast colors on my layout. While "white" is more prototypical in the midwest (Illinois) I prefer the darker grey ballasts because they tend to hide the black center rail. All a matter of personal preference.  ballast options

I've also used sand and coffee grounds for different ground applications but not for ballast.

Here’s an alternative that I’ve settled on exclusively (third layout).    I use polymeric sand (landscapers use it between pavers—new generation product)).  Contour it where you want it, wet it with water and the binder sets it up quickly.

You can easily add vegetation, oil spots, etc. but there is no painting needed.

It comes in two or three basic colors, grey, tan, etc.  

It’s available in most hardware and big box stores at less than $25 +/-  per 40-60lb bag.  If you need to change your track plan, a dull chisel makes quick work of removal.  I have 2 bags for my 1600 sq ft operating (card system) layout.  

FWIW, I used a 90-10 mix of light gray oil dry mixed with Woodland Scenics gray ballast on my whisker tracks.

To each his own, but I found stone dust at the local rock crushing plant at $5 - $10 (total) for 6-8 large grocery sacks full (Don't try putting more than that in the back of your car!) worked well. Hosed it down to get rid of the dust; screened it to size in a homemade box - 4 pieces of wood & a piece of screen; dried it a a cheap aluminum roasting pan - 275 deg. oven for 30 minutes. Result was over 100 coffee cans of ballast. Note: price was a tip to the guy at the gate of the rock crushing plant ($5 coffee break, $10 at lunch time). Prototypical? -- same as CSX uses for ballast just a finer version!

Check out roofing granules in the roofing department of your Menards, Lowes, Home Depot, etc.  It's cheap, many colors to choose from and/or mix to get exactly what you want.  I was able to mix to almost the exact color of the Texas & Pacific light red ballast they use in West Texas.  It's clean, too, and while I ran a magnet through it before applying, I did not discover any that was magnetic.  I got mine at Home Depot (no Menards in El Paso 25 years ago),    Just another cheap alternative that works very well.

                                                                                                                                           Logan

On my 027 toy train layout I have taken the easy way out and painted the area under the tracks light grey.  I was glad it was not ballasted when I decided to add additional track ties last year.  I used a some roofing granules, from my gutters, in the pit of my homemade turntable to act as gravel.

I have enjoyed reading of the ways and efforts others have posted on their adventure at ballasting their layout and all the sources of ballast.

On observing an old active IC train track that runs through City Park 9 hole golf coarse, I see lots of variations in the ballast.  It has had more ballast added and some ties replaced over the years and is not monochromatic.  Just saying, variation of the ballast color is not unusual on real train track ballast.

Charlie

If anyone uses the polymeric sand - please read the safety precautions. It has very fine power/dust that is easily inhaled. Mixed with water it reacts and solidifies. I do not think you want that stuff in your nose or lungs.  I used it for a patio and ended up wearing a good respirator and protective clothing after reading the warnings. Not something you want to do indoors. But it is a great idea. 

For sure… Thanks for adding that reminder. I use a respirator regardless of the type of material, crushed stone, sand, plaster, ground foam and such.  They all need to be kept out of your lungs!

Gentlemen, how do you color the granny grit (smaller chicken grit) once purchased? I tried painting each little rock, but it was very time consuming <G>

Paul

Granite colored spray paint with frequent stirring in a large container.

Ed

I use Brennan's Better Ballast exclusively.... order enough to fill one of those big usps priority mail boxes to make shipping affordable..... I also don't ballast between the rails..... saves on ballast, and nobody notices with the track on top of woodland scenic's foam roadbed...

At AGHR we used #16 construction sand (silver) for ballast. It's paintable and about the right size, but we ended up using it unpainted for stretches. We bought a 100 pound bag for about $10 and still have a bunch left over after ballasting a couple of hundred feet of track.

I even used some from the surplus for my OGR Micro Layout contest entry.

I've also considered using sanded tile grout. Easy-to-use,  just lay it down and add water.  I  know it comes in a variety of colors,  most are to garish for ballast.  But the darker colors might be appropriate for sidings and yard tracks. Next time I'm going to the big box home center I'll check prices and particle size.

As an aside, this past week I took a ride to Chicago on METRA'S Rock Island line and spent the trip staring at the roadbed.  Limestone pieces quite white in color and they looked to be no larger than 2 inches. Being a commuter line, METRA does a great job of maintaining the bed for a smooth ride. But I'm trying to model a 1950's era industrial site.  So I want something a little less polished.

I used chick grit and was quite happy. No issues with it getting picked up in engines. One thing, make sure you get enough all at once. I got enough for the layout, but then added an extension about a year later. I couldn’t get the same color.