Calcium from egg shells?

[JenniferCNY]

I have 8 laying hens and 2 chicks. Since a mama hen is raising the chicks with the whole flock they all are eating chick starter feed. I also put out oyster shell for the hens for their calcium. I'm almost out of it. Has anyone had success in offering egg shells to their hens? Is it enough calcium? I have noticed that their shells seem a little less thick since switching them to starter/oyster shell so I don't want to mess with their shell quality/thickness too much.

Thanks!

 

[SunHwaKwon]

I give my egg shells to my girls, but also keep oyster shell out since it is a more slow absorbing/longer lasting form of calcium than the shells. A bag of oyster shell should last a long time. A 50# bag is less than $10 and has lasted me over a year.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/manna-pro-oyster-shell-50-lb?cm_vc=-10005 Mine is a different brand but about the same price and I got it at TSC.

 

[Kusanar]

The egg shells may be easier to break down, so I would offer them WITH the oyster shell, but don't rely on just feeding back the eggshells from your flock because it isn't a perfectly efficient system and so there is calcium lost here and there other than into the shells.

 

[lazy gardener]

A recent study found that there was little difference between uptake of calcium with hens fed oyster shell vs. egg shell. So, you will be fine with either. However, if ALL you rely on is the egg shells from your own hens, there will be a diminishing return. So, over time, you will need to input calcium from an alternate source.

 

[Ridgerunner]

All chickens need some calcium just for body function. That's why Starter, Grower, Flock Raiser, and all the other feeds have some calcium in them, normally around 1%. Hens that are laying need a lot more for the egg shells, so Layer normally has around 4% calcium.

Some of the calcium they eat is not processed by their bodies. It passes straight through and out the rear end. That makes compost made from chicken poop even more valuable in your garden, many plants need calcium to produce healthy produce.

Chickens can get calcium from different sources, especially if they forage for some of what they eat. That calcium might come from certain plants, some of the creepy crawlies they eat, or if you are in limestone country from some of the rocks they eat and use as grit. They can get it from the chicken feed, oyster shells, or crushed egg shells. How much calcium they get and if it is enough will depend on how this all goes together.

Between the amount that passes out the rear end and the amount used for other body functions if their only calcium source is their own egg shells it is a losing proposition. But if they are getting enough calcium from other sources egg shells can contribute.

Most laying hens seem to know they need extra calcium and eat enough oyster shell if it is offered, but some may not have those good instincts as strong as they should be. Most of the time offering oyster shell on the side is enough for good egg shells. Most of the time. If they are getting calcium from other sources oyster shell may last a really long time. If they are not getting much calcium from other sources they can go through it fairly quickly. I have 11 pullets just starting to lay, my oyster shell levels have been dropping pretty fast.

Feeding egg shells back to your hens will help if you can get them to eat them. Mine seem to not like them very well, but they always have oyster shell. For the short term it will help some but I'd get another bag of oyster shell at the next opportunity.

 

[JenniferCNY]

Thanks for all the help and info! The one bag of oyster shell I'd gotten is small and pricy but I will get a big old bag from TSC. I'd rather do oyster shell than deal with egg shells.

 

[aart]

I mix the crushed egg shell(when I have them, don't always want to deal with them either) in with the oyster shells.

When I had pullets separate from hens I had to sprinkle some oyster shell, just a dozen pieces, on top of the feed for a few days before they got the idea to eat them from the other container.