Baby chicks ate oyster shells

[Chickiechickieboomboom]

I have been letting my 3.5-week-old chicks free range with the hens the past couple days. Yesterday I noticed the chicks pecking away at something. I realized it was where I had dropped oyster shells a couple months ago. I could still see some of the shells, not sure how much they ingested. Should I be worried about this?

Also, when the chicks move in with the hens, do I need to keep the oyster shells somewhere the chicks cannot reach?

Thanks!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

While excessive calcium is bad for them, I wouldn't worry about it unless they eat it every day.
I have various aged and sex birds and keep a cage cup full of OS at each flock and I never see roosters or young birds eating it. I would refrain from scattering it on the ground.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If they eat a little bit I wouldn't worry, probably more curiosity than anything else. I admit I do raise my oyster shell dispenser a little (I have it hanging on a wall) when I have chicks, just so they can't get into it so easily.