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Feeding Eggshells - Page 2

post #11 of 22
10/7/11 at 9:00am

I just save the egg shells & crush them after they are dried & store in an air-tight container. No washing, sterilizing, nothing. They are crushed to very small pieces & mixed in with their food periodically. Never had an egg-eater because of this or any other reason.

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Be thankful all year long
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post #12 of 22
10/7/11 at 11:31am

I do feed back the eggs shells to my hens regularly as they are freeranging and eat a lot of low calcium foods.

BUT the shells are cooked in the microwave to kill any bacteria like salmonella.  I do not want salmonella in my flock so I always heat the shells. I used to use the oven, but with the suggestion of another BYC person, now use the microwave. I place them on a glass pie plate, heat, crush when I have time and dump in a pan outside. Easy.

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NPIP Tested Clean

 

           Eggs available:   Bourbon Red and Sweetgrass Turkeys

             Black Copper Marans, Buff Orpingtons and Speckled Sussex    

D.gif  jumpy.gifD.gif

 

Grow where you are planted. --Unknown

 

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post #13 of 22
10/7/11 at 12:10pm

BUT the shells are cooked in the microwave to kill any bacteria like salmonella.

I do not want salmonella in my flock so I always heat the shells


If there is Salmonella in the eggs, it CAME from your chickens

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post #14 of 22
10/7/11 at 2:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by WestKnollAmy 

I throw the weak shelled or odd eggs back down to my chickens right in the coop or outside in front of their coop.
It is an old wives tale that it will get them in the habit of eating their own eggs. That just isn't true.
I throw the whole egg down and it breaks on the ground in front of them, they run up and eat it.
I have had chickens for many years and out of the 500 plus I have now (I am currently down a few hundred), no one eats eggs unless they have low protein problems.
I have never, ever had a chicken eat their eggs because of low calcium but I always make sure they have oyster shell. They may need more protein and bust an egg for that or if they see a cracked one they will get rid of it as it is their instinct to get rid of it before it draws a predator.
I can lay eggs on the ground and they all run over to it and then look up at me to bust it for them. If I tap it they do too but they never bust it.
I never heat the darn things either. Waste of time. They can eat their own shell fresh or old. I bust the undeveloped ones from my bator and they eat those shells, too. No one has been sick from it.
Just my many years of experience with chickens and eggs.


Amen, sister!  I've been preachin' this for some time and folks still can't seem to get it and will pass on that old saw about egg eaters every time.  Been feeding eggs and shells back to chickens since I was 10...35 years now...and not one egg eater in my flocks.  Imagine that. 

Please...this should be a sticky so that all newbies will get over this fear of feeding egg shells back to their birds.

If you died tonight, where would you spend eternity?  Please think about it. 

Info we all need to know:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDDGl79x4Pc&feature=my_favorites&list=FLIvzTTPS3Bg-qsbs8VPh__Q


 

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If you died tonight, where would you spend eternity?  Please think about it. 

Info we all need to know:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDDGl79x4Pc&feature=my_favorites&list=FLIvzTTPS3Bg-qsbs8VPh__Q


 

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post #15 of 22
10/7/11 at 2:52pm
Thread Starter 

I have a few in a bowl that I washed out. I will collect them for a few more days, we dont eat many now cause they are from the store.  hu

You can do anything if you don't know you can't.

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You can do anything if you don't know you can't.

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post #16 of 22
10/7/11 at 2:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TigerLilly 

I just save the egg shells & crush them after they are dried & store in an air-tight container. No washing, sterilizing, nothing. They are crushed to very small pieces & mixed in with their food periodically. Never had an egg-eater because of this or any other reason.


x2

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No matter where I go, the laundry still hasn't been done.
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post #17 of 22
10/7/11 at 3:08pm

I save my duck egg and chicken egg shells in the freezer and toaste in oven and crush and feed to the chickens and ducks.. ducks aren't laying right now but the chickens are.. I have a gallon bag saved up again so its time to toast them next time I'm baking...

Home to  3 ducks ( Stanley & Daisy WH,  & Magpie " Ellie",   1 hen ,  3 cats, 2 dogs, backyard full of squirrels and song birds..
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Home to  3 ducks ( Stanley & Daisy WH,  & Magpie " Ellie",   1 hen ,  3 cats, 2 dogs, backyard full of squirrels and song birds..
www.christinemalloryhomestore.shelfreliance.com
http://www.duckhaven.org/
http://www.mthollyducksanctuary.com/

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post #18 of 22
10/7/11 at 5:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TigerLilly 

I just save the egg shells & crush them after they are dried & store in an air-tight container. No washing, sterilizing, nothing. They are crushed to very small pieces & mixed in with their food periodically. Never had an egg-eater because of this or any other reason.


X2. I position shells wet side up to ensure rapid drying.

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4 EE and 2 BR hens, 1 BR roo
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post #19 of 22
10/7/11 at 5:37pm

I put my shells back in the carton and under the kitchen sink until they dry, never wash or bake them, then when I have a couple dozen dried I put them in the blender until they are very fine pieces and mix them in with some plain yogurt and give that to the chickens sometimes with oatmeal mixed in.

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post #20 of 22
10/8/11 at 7:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Beekissed 
Quote:
Originally Posted by WestKnollAmy 

I throw the weak shelled or odd eggs back down to my chickens right in the coop or outside in front of their coop.
It is an old wives tale that it will get them in the habit of eating their own eggs. That just isn't true.
I throw the whole egg down and it breaks on the ground in front of them, they run up and eat it.
I have had chickens for many years and out of the 500 plus I have now (I am currently down a few hundred), no one eats eggs unless they have low protein problems.
I have never, ever had a chicken eat their eggs because of low calcium but I always make sure they have oyster shell. They may need more protein and bust an egg for that or if they see a cracked one they will get rid of it as it is their instinct to get rid of it before it draws a predator.
I can lay eggs on the ground and they all run over to it and then look up at me to bust it for them. If I tap it they do too but they never bust it.
I never heat the darn things either. Waste of time. They can eat their own shell fresh or old. I bust the undeveloped ones from my bator and they eat those shells, too. No one has been sick from it.
Just my many years of experience with chickens and eggs.


Amen, sister!  I've been preachin' this for some time and folks still can't seem to get it and will pass on that old saw about egg eaters every time.  Been feeding eggs and shells back to chickens since I was 10...35 years now...and not one egg eater in my flocks.  Imagine that. 

Please...this should be a sticky so that all newbies will get over this fear of feeding egg shells back to their birds.


Now this is wisdom to take to the bank!  Thank you!  Seems a lot of folks make it harder than it is and it's your shared knowledge that needs to keep being repeated!

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7 chickens, 3 cats, 2 dogs .... and a VERY DH. 
My mealworm farm http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=59623-mealworm-fam-experiences

And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.   Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

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