Are They Eating Too Much Calcium?

[Fluffy_Butt_Hutt]

As everyone says, chickens know how to pace themselves and eat what's right for them, but now I'm wondering to what extent?

I give my 9 pullets free-choice oyster and baked reused egg shells, however, they're going through what I think to be a crazy amount.

All of my flock are Barred Rocks and Barred Rock mixed with BYMs (said to lay 4-5 times a week). Two pullets have started five weeks ago and have been laying consistently for three weeks at combined 11 (BYM lays 6, BR lays 5) a week. Two have laid their first egg yesterday at 20-21 weeks. Three are due to lay their first egg any time now at 20-21 weeks. Two are 12 week old Blue Ameraucanas.

Together, they eat the equivalent of ~7 baked regular size egg shells a day + an estimated 40 grams of oyster flakes. They get a mix of Scratch & Peck grower mash (calcium min 0.8%, max 1.3%) and Kalmbach layer pellets (calcium min 3.50%, max 4.20%) which is mixed respectively 4 parts to 1 and 8 to 9 cups given daily. Additionally, their daily feed consists of around 1 cup dried BSFL (3.25% min calcium) and 1/2 cup BOSS a day (~72g calcium). They also get grass (1 lb every day because cutting grass is tedious) and probably 2 lbs of watermelon (every 4-5 days). They vacuum up any dropped feather and eat that too.

What has specifically changed recently? The Ameraucanas were slowly introduced to the flock for six weeks and have been sleeping in the coop since two weeks ago. As the younger ones grow, they've been sometimes needing 1 more cup of the mixed feed a day. A little over a week ago, I started giving them baked egg shells in addition to their oyster. Their consumption of oyster did not go down (they still finish almost all of it) but they were munching on the baked egg shells too (I bake 2 dozen shells twice a week at a time, they finish it within 2 days).

I've been noticing there are some signs of excess calcium recently. With the first-time layers, it makes sense why they have calcium deposits. However, with the almost daily layers, why am I seeing calcium deposits and some wrinkling in the shells? For the past two days they've each laid an egg like this, but they've never laid something similar before since they've been consistent. I am not seeing a full extra calcium coating or weird shaped eggs, just eggs speckled chocolate brown and white and there was some wrinkling in the largest one too. The wrinkling might be caused by the egg being bigger than her previous eggs, stressing her out. Additionally, I never expected them to lay this much, is the amount of calcium they are consuming forcing them to lay eggs more often to protect their liver, or is it feed & nutrition quality in comparison to commercial? The oyster and baked shells are separate but as close as 1 ft to where I might spread out their daily feed, are they getting confused? Are my top of pecking order (the ones laying) preventing others from eating treats and therefore eating all that excess calcium themselves (possible, because they eat the most treats, but the others get some too)? Are they not eating too much calcium and it the spots happen to be a coincidence because they are generally new layers?

AI says a laying chicken should be eating 4-5g a day of calcium, but mine are, if my calculations are correct, eating way more than that. I notice the oldest ones eating the most calcium, but even the Ameraucanas, who are nowhere close to lay, each eat probably 4g or more a day.

In conclusion, I might be obsessing over my fluffy girls a bit too much. Are my chickens pacing themselves, or do I have to pace for them? What should I do, or have they already figured it out?

 

[FrostRanger]

More calcium doesn't cause them to lay more eggs, rather, they're going through that much calcium because they are laying so many eggs. The more they're laying the more calcium they need. Chickens lay best in their first 2 years of life and new layers will often lay through winter (not always though). Pullets often also lay wonky eggs especially when starting out and nonlaying pullets will start to eat more calcium to prepare for when they start laying. All is well

That said, there's really no benefit of mixing grower and layer feed, I would just feed the grower because of the higher protein. They are also getting way too many treats for the amount of birds you have. Treats should make up less than 10% of their diet. If they get too many treats they are more likely to have health issues such as nutrient imbalances and obesity which can cause various health problems including fatty liver disease and reproductive issues

 

[rosemarythyme]

I haven't noticed excessive intake when the flock is allowed to regulate for themselves. During winter of course the oyster and eggshell barely get touched. Once they're getting back into lay I start seeing it disappear and yes it does seem to go fast when most of the flock is laying, however I never weigh anything, I let them decide and refill as needed.

Do you provide digestive grit as well?

Also I know it's not the question but that's a high amount of treats for 9 birds. I currently have 10 hens and they get maybe 1-2 Tbsp of mealworms on a typical day, and vegetable scraps when available. I tossed in the top of a very large carrot last week and they spent days working at that.

 

[Fluffy_Butt_Hutt]

More calcium doesn't cause them to lay more eggs, rather, they're going through that much calcium because they are laying so many eggs. The more they're laying the more calcium they need. Chickens lay best in their first 2 years of life and new layers will often lay through winter (not always though). Pullets often also lay wonky eggs especially when starting out and nonlaying pullets will start to eat more calcium to prepare for when they start laying. All is well

That said, there's really no benefit of mixing grower and layer feed, I would just feed the grower because of the higher protein. They are also getting way too many treats for the amount of birds you have. Treats should make up less than 10% of their diet. If they get too many treats they are more likely to have health issues such as nutrient imbalances and obesity which can cause various health problems including fatty liver disease and reproductive issues

Thank you for the advice with the treats, I'll cut down! The only reason I'm doing mixing feed is because I bought the feed earlier on and immediately reverted back to grower feed, but it's fine feed so I'm mixing it to at least get some use of it instead of throwing it away. They get grit in form of natural small pebbles (I sift more from the ground every week) as where I live is rocks for days.

 

[Fluffy_Butt_Hutt]

I haven't noticed excessive intake when the flock is allowed to regulate for themselves. During winter of course the oyster and eggshell barely get touched. Once they're getting back into lay I start seeing it disappear and yes it does seem to go fast when most of the flock is laying, however I never weigh anything, I let them decide and refill as needed.

Do you provide digestive grit as well?

Also I know it's not the question but that's a high amount of treats for 9 birds. I currently have 10 hens and they get maybe 1-2 Tbsp of mealworms on a typical day, and vegetable scraps when available. I tossed in the top of a very large carrot last week and they spent days working at that.

I'm glad both of you mentioned that, I guess it never occurred to me that I was increasing their treats in the rate they were eating it ! It's all gone in a few minutes and they get their feed an hour before treats come out! I'll be halving what they get, currently, is that okay? I forgot to mention measurements from their feeder in the run which they also eat from, but it'd be a best guess at how much they eat because I don't pay attention when refilling it.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'm glad both of you mentioned that, I guess it never occurred to me that I was increasing their treats in the rate they were eating it ! It's all gone in a few minutes and they get their feed an hour before treats come out! I'll be halving what they get, currently, is that okay? I forgot to mention measurements from their feeder in the run which they also eat from, but it'd be a best guess at how much they eat because I don't pay attention when refilling it.

Well of course they were happy to chow down on the treats - put a plate of chocolate chip cookies in front of the typical human and even if they're full they'll find way to make room for them!

I'd aim to cut it down to maybe 1/4 cup total or less a day. BOSS and BSFL are both fatty compared to their normal feed, and while fat hens look cute they're also more likely to have health issues because of that: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ts-story-please-dont-overfeed-treats.1593329/

 

[Fluffy_Butt_Hutt]

Well of course they were happy to chow down on the treats - put a plate of chocolate chip cookies in front of the typical human and even if they're full they'll find way to make room for them!

I'd aim to cut it down to maybe 1/4 cup total or less a day. BOSS and BSFL are both fatty compared to their normal feed, and while fat hens look cute they're also more likely to have health issues because of that: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ts-story-please-dont-overfeed-treats.1593329/

I did not know of the fat content, thank you! I do check their weight and keel bone once a week, so it never occurred to me that the treats were too much even though I knew better in the back of my head. I just want to spoil them, but I much prefer a long-living chicken.

 

[Altairsky]

I can think of 2 explanations.
1- If you don't give them digestive grit, they might be trying to use the oyster shell as grit.
2- chickens are foragers and need food available from sunrise to sundown. If you count a certain amount of feed per bird every 24 hours, you might be starving them. If they have no food to eat and have an empty crop, they'll find something else to fill their crops with.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

As everyone says, chickens know how to pace themselves and eat what's right for them, but now I'm wondering to what extent?

I give my 9 pullets free-choice oyster and baked reused egg shells, however, they're going through what I think to be a crazy amount.

All of my flock are Barred Rocks and Barred Rock mixed with BYMs (said to lay 4-5 times a week). Two pullets have started five weeks ago and have been laying consistently for three weeks at combined 11 (BYM lays 6, BR lays 5) a week. Two have laid their first egg yesterday at 20-21 weeks. Three are due to lay their first egg any time now at 20-21 weeks. Two are 12 week old Blue Ameraucanas.

Together, they eat the equivalent of ~7 baked regular size egg shells a day + an estimated 40 grams of oyster flakes. They get a mix of Scratch & Peck grower mash (calcium min 0.8%, max 1.3%) and Kalmbach layer pellets (calcium min 3.50%, max 4.20%) which is mixed respectively 4 parts to 1 and 8 to 9 cups given daily. Additionally, their daily feed consists of around 1 cup dried BSFL (3.25% min calcium) and 1/2 cup BOSS a day (~72g calcium). They also get grass (1 lb every day because cutting grass is tedious) and probably 2 lbs of watermelon (every 4-5 days). They vacuum up any dropped feather and eat that too.

What has specifically changed recently? The Ameraucanas were slowly introduced to the flock for six weeks and have been sleeping in the coop since two weeks ago. As the younger ones grow, they've been sometimes needing 1 more cup of the mixed feed a day. A little over a week ago, I started giving them baked egg shells in addition to their oyster. Their consumption of oyster did not go down (they still finish almost all of it) but they were munching on the baked egg shells too (I bake 2 dozen shells twice a week at a time, they finish it within 2 days).

I've been noticing there are some signs of excess calcium recently. With the first-time layers, it makes sense why they have calcium deposits. However, with the almost daily layers, why am I seeing calcium deposits and some wrinkling in the shells? For the past two days they've each laid an egg like this, but they've never laid something similar before since they've been consistent. I am not seeing a full extra calcium coating or weird shaped eggs, just eggs speckled chocolate brown and white and there was some wrinkling in the largest one too. The wrinkling might be caused by the egg being bigger than her previous eggs, stressing her out. Additionally, I never expected them to lay this much, is the amount of calcium they are consuming forcing them to lay eggs more often to protect their liver, or is it feed & nutrition quality in comparison to commercial? The oyster and baked shells are separate but as close as 1 ft to where I might spread out their daily feed, are they getting confused? Are my top of pecking order (the ones laying) preventing others from eating treats and therefore eating all that excess calcium themselves (possible, because they eat the most treats, but the others get some too)? Are they not eating too much calcium and it the spots happen to be a coincidence because they are generally new layers?

AI says a laying chicken should be eating 4-5g a day of calcium, but mine are, if my calculations are correct, eating way more than that. I notice the oldest ones eating the most calcium, but even the Ameraucanas, who are nowhere close to lay, each eat probably 4g or more a day.

In conclusion, I might be obsessing over my fluffy girls a bit too much. Are my chickens pacing themselves, or do I have to pace for them? What should I do, or have they already figured it out?

Another thing to consider is that your layers are still pullets and growing.

They are (broadly) similar to human teen mothers and need a lot of nutrition. They still need plenty of calcium to maintain and grow bones, etc., plus now the additional required amounts of calcium for egg production.

 

[Fluffy_Butt_Hutt]

I can think of 2 explanations.
1- If you don't give them digestive grit, they might be trying to use the oyster shell as grit.
2- chickens are foragers and need food available from sunrise to sundown. If you count a certain amount of feed per bird every 24 hours, you might be starving them. If they have no food to eat and have an empty crop, they'll find something else to fill their crops with.

I think both would be possible reasons, however it's probably not plausible in my case. I only let them go without excess provided food for 1-2 hours at most a day, they get more if I notice they look low earlier than that. So, the feed isn't based on what others say they should eat, it's based on how much they do eat and adjusted. Grit is abundant, I sift dirt to make their dust baths (they can't dig because three inches down is large rock here) and out of that comes probably 12-15 pounds of pebble the size of grit sold for adult chickens. All of that goes in to a corner accessible to them. The rocks they don't get are rocks bigger than a quarter, which is used to hold down the skirt.

I think I'm just going to accept that they're calcium vacuums. I'll also be not giving them treats for two to four weeks to offset what I've given them before and be a lot more strict with it. Thank you everyone for the inputs!