Chickens and Calcium

[mccartyfarms512]

A couple of my hens are laying eggs with rough shells and some with extra deposits on them, I've been told its from my girls not having enough calcium so I bought some oyster shells but they WILL NOT eat them, I've mixed it in with their feed and their scratch. Does anybody have any suggestions? Thanks

 

[tyjorg]

From my experience I just put them in a bowl in a corner (along with some granite) and they will go eat them when they need, its not something they eat a ton of but will wonder over and eat a few pieces here and there. I would just try that instead of mixing with the food so their wont be as much waste. It might take them a few days to figure out where to get their calcium at but once they do they will find it. Mixing kelp meal with the food is a good idea however.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Depending on how the shells look, it could be a defective shell gland or even excess calcium. It could also be dehydration which will cause rough shells.

http://www.alltech.com/sites/default/files/alltech-egg-shell-quality-poster.pdf