Another Oyster Shell question

[GPowell]

I have and can get whole pices of oyster shells anytime I want for free. I rather get the oyster shells for free and put in a little work to crush them up then to buy a 10 dollar bag from tractor supply. The question I have is can I in fact crush the shells up myself and feed them to my hens? I couldn't find a answer for this anywere on the internet.

 

[Den in Penn]

Yes you can crush them and use them for the chickens. How do you think you are going to do it?

 

[GPowell]

A hammer would be a good start and some sort of durable heavy duty bag of some kind......maybe my wifes purse.

 

[GPowell]

Would I need to sanitize them by putting them in an oven first? They kinda have a pungent smell to them

 

[Den in Penn]

I don't know about baking or washing them. I heard that someone was going to try putting them in a bag and run over them with a car or truck to break them up. I don't recall how that worked out.

 

[GPowell]

I think a hammer or mini sledge would work better. I'll let you kno how it turns out.

 

[ChickenJerk]

Oyster shell as bought at the feed store is not processed from the oysters harvested for human food.
I would worry about botulism or some other form of food borne illness if there was still some tissue with the shells.
Some time in the sun and rain should help sanitize the raw shells.