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Can chickens eat human calcium supplements?

post #1 of 14
12/2/10 at 8:38pm
Thread Starter 

I have a 1 1/2 year old hen, she's been laying regular every day eggs for a year now. I ran out of my oyster shell, went to buy more and the store CLOSED! so I got some at another feed store, not the same brand, this is more powdery and whiter. She doesn't eat it as much as she did the old brand. I've been using it for a few months now and have noticed a few thin spots on her eggs, now she's not laying as frequently and when she does, she's been eating the eggs. I'm thinking she just doesn't like this brand and that could be why she's having the thin spots, etc... and why she now feels the need for more calcium. SO, I ordered a bag from McMurray hatchery, hoping she'll like this stuff, but until it gets here in a few days, would it harm her to offer her a human calcium tablet?

Don't want her to have any issues since she's obviously wanting calcium.

Mudsow


Edited by Mudsow - 12/2/10 at 8:40pm
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post #2 of 14
12/2/10 at 8:55pm
Thread Starter 

How about Tums, they are calcium carbonate???

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post #3 of 14
12/2/10 at 9:01pm

I have given my hens a calcium suppliment. it's a chewable calcium tablet (for humans) which I crush and mix in with some laying mash. I add water and they love it. I saw instant results. and my chooks loved it. I put about 3 tablets in for 4 chooks.

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post #4 of 14
12/2/10 at 9:05pm

I don't know about that...seems like it could be a bad idea.  I would get something designed for chickens, not people.  I know that chickens are sensitive to sodium.  Is she not on layer feed?

One super fantastic coop-building husband, thousands of honeybees, 1 BA, 1 BO, 3 EE, 2 blue cochins and 1 banty light brahma named Camilla

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One super fantastic coop-building husband, thousands of honeybees, 1 BA, 1 BO, 3 EE, 2 blue cochins and 1 banty light brahma named Camilla

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post #5 of 14
12/2/10 at 9:12pm
Thread Starter 

Yes, she's on layer feed, and gets fresh greens and roasted mealworms as treats. But it's just odd, that she's been having issues since we switched oyster shell brands. i know we're headed into winter, and it's her second year, so she could be just slowing down because of that, but, heck, she's in our computer room (right behind me hehe) and I'm up till at least 11:00, so she gets ample lighting and she's got 70* year round! so I wasn't so sure that winter would be her main reason. With the thin spots, and then missed days, and now egg eating??? just seems to me like a calcium issue. She's otherwise fine.

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post #6 of 14
12/2/10 at 9:22pm

The calcium carbonate tablets for people are just crushed oyster shell, with some binders to keep it in tablet form.  I sure don't see any reason why you couldn't substitute crushed tablets on a short term basis, except for that they're a lot more expensive than a bag of oyster shell.

Actually, my aunt who is a nurse, told me that calcium carbonate is difficult for the human body to absorb, and people should be taking calcium CITRATE instead.

Proud mom of 2 US Marines!   Happy care-giver to 11 ISA Brown hens, 2 Buff Orpingtons, and 1 Silver Laced Wyandotte; 1 elderly female Rottweiler who thinks she's a cat, 4 sons who are much taller than I am, the most awesome baby granddaughter alive, and a sweet computer geek husband who broods in front of his laptop and hatches incredible software.
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Proud mom of 2 US Marines!   Happy care-giver to 11 ISA Brown hens, 2 Buff Orpingtons, and 1 Silver Laced Wyandotte; 1 elderly female Rottweiler who thinks she's a cat, 4 sons who are much taller than I am, the most awesome baby granddaughter alive, and a sweet computer geek husband who broods in front of his laptop and hatches incredible software.
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post #7 of 14
12/2/10 at 9:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohhhdear 

The calcium carbonate tablets for people are just crushed oyster shell, with some binders to keep it in tablet form.  I sure don't see any reason why you couldn't substitute crushed tablets on a short term basis, except for that they're a lot more expensive than a bag of oyster shell.

Actually, my aunt who is a nurse, told me that calcium carbonate is difficult for the human body to absorb, and people should be taking calcium CITRATE instead.


Yeah, what she said smile

Rachel BB
 

Well, the kittens aren't so cute anymore and the easter egger cockerels are in the freezer. Plus, I think offering them as "prizes" scared folks off! So, I'm still posting quotes, if you know it let me know. I'm very enamored of this new one, it may hang around for a while!

 

"If I'd known the world was ending I'd have brought better books"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Rachel BB
 

Well, the kittens aren't so cute anymore and the easter egger cockerels are in the freezer. Plus, I think offering them as "prizes" scared folks off! So, I'm still posting quotes, if you know it let me know. I'm very enamored of this new one, it may hang around for a while!

 

"If I'd known the world was ending I'd have brought better books"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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post #8 of 14
12/2/10 at 9:43pm

why donot u just crush up your eggs shells and feed it back to them

We have 10 chickens 1 silver campine,2 hen buff Orpington,3 hen n 1 roo who is disability Australorp /Cochin mix, 2 hen Leghorn started laying 7-19,2010  They  came to us on April 4 2010 one week old. got 3 more 8/14/10 BR  2EE young HENS
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We have 10 chickens 1 silver campine,2 hen buff Orpington,3 hen n 1 roo who is disability Australorp /Cochin mix, 2 hen Leghorn started laying 7-19,2010  They  came to us on April 4 2010 one week old. got 3 more 8/14/10 BR  2EE young HENS
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post #9 of 14
12/2/10 at 9:46pm

I wouldnt do it.

I prefer an ugly truth to a pretty lie. If someone is telling me the truth that is when i will give my heart. ~ Jack Nicholson 

Look! A ladder!! Maybe it leads to heaven, or a sandwich... 

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I prefer an ugly truth to a pretty lie. If someone is telling me the truth that is when i will give my heart. ~ Jack Nicholson 

Look! A ladder!! Maybe it leads to heaven, or a sandwich... 

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post #10 of 14
6/23/12 at 12:17pm

hey i was wondering even if my chickens aernt ill is it good to give em calcium mixed with either their food or their water

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BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Feeding & Watering Your Flock › Can chickens eat human calcium supplements?