Thanks you guys so much for the advice there is only so much I can do because my mother keeps saying get back to the basics of only needing them pellets and plain water I've started putting oregano in the water again I'm gonna have feed her Meal worm to help her get in extra protein and hopefully once the grass starts furrowing again I'll be able to give them that I'know it's not much nutrition I'll start eating there eggs in the morning to give it to her but I'll dry them out wats the best way to dry out the egg shells and yes the eight hens I have are mine and I'm still in high school and don't have a driver's licenses even though I'm a senior I do have a job but my mother hates my adding or trying to aid my hens so I can't get oyster shells we have extra virgin olive oil not vingar is that close enough I can't wait to be able to help her thanks so much for such the helpful replies it really helps thank you so much for your guys time I appreciate it
Thanks my hens are like my babies to me will do and would putting the crushed eggshells in water work or in the bread that I feed them to trick her into eating the egg shells because this morning I tried putting it in bread or hand feeding her but she was very stubborn plus I haven't had for year old hens before so I'm very worried about them hopefully they live over a decade it's my goal I'll put vingar on the list I have allot of chicken books and even a medical book but I don't give much ideas for this sort of stuff including how they're bodies change trust me with what every spare time at school I look up on anything on chickens to improve things I'm also studying to be a vet tech and already have plenty of really experience so hopefully that will also help me with them too and thanks so much againHi Yuki!
The olive oil isn't the same as vinegar in the chicken's nutrition. Look in your kitchen cupboard....most houses have vinegar, and if you don't have any, then ask your mother to pick up a bottle next time she is in the grocery!!! Vinegar is pretty cheap. The reason it helps them absorb calcium is because it is acidic.
Here is a 'science experiment'
https://www.google.com/search?q=soa.....69i57j0l5.5580j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Perhaps you could combine your chicken raising with your school work? Your mother is right that chickens shouldn't need other than pellets and plenty of water. Maybe you could talk to her about how this is important to you, and ask her for her help in taking the best care of your chicken and explaining that it is a pet, as well as livestock, and that you will be learning new things while trying your care process.
A smallish bottle of apple cider vinegar is pretty low cost. Put 1 Tablespoon in a gallon of water....and let your flock drink from that. If you cannot purchse oystershells, then be sure to give the shells from the eggs you use back to your chickens.
You can dry them out by just letting them sit for awhile. I put mine in the microwave oven on a paper plate for about 1 minute 30 seconds -- and they are easy to smash with a can -- and then I roll the can over the paper plate to make the shell pieces small.
Good luck with your chicken -- hope you can get hold of some vinegar and you can feed eggshells to your flock!
ETA - if you are not able to get vinegar, send me a PM, I might have an idea that would work for you. Remember too, that chickens do have a time when their egg laying days are over, and when their life ends as sad as that makes us feel.
