Can a hen lay herself to death?

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Cel45 said:
Thanks guys, so let me ask another question. I do have oyster shell available, but they don't seem to eat it. Should I add some to their daily feed or throw some down with the stratch I throw for them daily?
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They may not need it yet......and if you are feeding layer feed it already has enough calcium in it so they won't be using much of the oyster shell.
I'd just keep it in a separate container....they'll find it eventually.

Tho I admit, I did put a half dozen pieces in the feeder in the pullet coop...but I feed a high protein/low calcium feed.
 
I would not put it in their feed, but I would always have it available to them. For my production hens, layer does not seem to have enough calcium, so they eat a lot of eggshells, but have never liked oyster shell. Mine are spoiled though.
 
Free Feather said:
I would not put it in their feed, but I would always have it available to them. For my production hens, layer does not seem to have enough calcium, so they eat a lot of eggshells, but have never liked oyster shell. Mine are spoiled though.
Click to expand...
It goes thru them so fast that they don't absorb much of the calcium that in them.
 
aart said:
It goes thru them so fast that they don't absorb much of the calcium that in them.
Click to expand...
I have heard that, and it makes sense. But I give them to the chickens anyways because what else am I going to do with them? They have oyster shell, too, they just rarely want to eat it. I crush it up with a hammer sometimes and mix it with yogurt as a treat every once in a while. Even some of my hens with really thin eggshells, who are eating grower do not want oyster shell.
 
If they are eating a formulated layer feed (a complete one you buy at the feed store) then that has enough calcium in it for your birds. The oyster shell is a good option to leave out though. Some birds may want to eat it but you don't have to add it to the food.
 
Last edited:
Thanks again, yes, they are on layer and they free range in the yard during the day. I also leave a pan of layer oit in the yard for them in addition to the coop run. Just some of the talk about problems with sex links like the ISA Browns has me concerned.
 

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