Am I a bad chicken momma? I'm not giving them oyster...

I think you have the hang of it. I'm new at this, but have done some research, and most chickens get plenty of calcium from yummy bugs that they eat as well as many leafy greens. We are supplementing because two of our pullets are laying shell-less eggs. I tell my kids the same thing, just because they have more money, doesn't mean they know better. Sounds like your hens are healthy and thriving. That's the key.

 

Well, I have never given any of my chickens oyster shell------I too feel guilty about it, but only when I'm buying feed and see it, and wald on by. I do, however, feed my chickens' egg shells back to them crushed up. Mine are free-range also, and get quite a few garden scraps----at least every other day. They are fed layer pellets. Anyway, my chickens have always seemed fine, and have never layed "soft" eggs. Maybe someone else who knows more about this can help. As for the neighbors' chickens' accomadations, I think they went a little over-board. My hubby did build a nice big shed that is sectioned off for the chickens and goats, but heated?!? Not sure that is good for the chickens. Your shed is just wonderful as far as your chickens are concerned!

 

If your egg shells are hard, they are getting enough calcium, whether it is from the layer crumbles, bugs, certain green stuff, or the rocks they find and use as grit.

Oyster shell is too soft to be used as grit. They need harder rocks or sand to use to grind up hteir food. If they have access to the ground they are getting plenty of that.

 

I have never given my chickens oyster shell. My chickens lay wonderful eggs that are downright hard to crack sometimes. Don't worry one bit. At least you get eggs...they aren't getting any from those roosters!!!

 

sounds like "hen envy" to me.

 

They don't need oyster shell if you are feeding a balanced feed. I give grit because we feed some whole and cracked grains in their scratch feed (in addition to their free choice complete feed).

 

layer ration has fairly adequate calcium added for shell production, it is when you start adding scratch and treats that that calcium level sometimes can get out of whack. You could throw a bowl of crushed oyster shell out there for them, or feed their crushed shells back to them. That should take care of any soft shells, if you ever get any of those.
Try not to get sucked into the "us vs them" game with the Jones's. All that matters is that your ladies are safe from predators, properly cared for.....you give them what they need - they give you what you need (eggs! ). It's a lovely thing that doesn't require tons of money.

 

I'm on the other side of this from most thus far. A rubbery egg can be murder to expel and a thin shelled egg can break internally - first time could have serious consequences - so I say, better safe than sorry. It's so easy to have oyster shell available at all times - a bag lasts a long time. This way if they feel the need to add calcium then they will and if not, not. My hen always eats oyster shell the night before laying an egg. She gets a varied diet (a source of great joy for her and her roo buddy) so this way I never have to worry about whether she is getting enough calcium.

JJ (aka jjthink most of the time...)

 

1 person reads a book and they know it all, I've read my book and noticed that the people writing the book weren't exactly experts either. so I come on byc so I can learn from others. I only have my 1 laying hen and 1 laying pullet so far the hens been giving me eggs all summer long without having any oyster shell, when I see a problem with her eggs I might add some but I live in florida and I probably have enough calcium in the sand they eat, remember the old saying " if it aint broke don't fix it" as for your neighbors they'll probably be offering you their coop by januaury. because they're going to find out its actually work keeping chickens.
gl to you and your girls