Calcium question

[FabulousMandy]

My chickens are picky, and absolutely will not touch their oyster shells. I used to mix it in with their food (I feed them an organic layer mix from Countryside Natural Products), but when I noticed them knocking most of the feed out of the feeder I decided to put the oyster shell in a separate dish, assuming that was the problem. Said dish has stayed just as full as when I first filled it up, and they're wasting next to no food now, so I guess they really hate oyster shell

.

I have no eggshell issues and all eggs laid since they went into production have been strong. My 'lorps eggshell thickness is equivalent to a store bought egg; they're not exactly brittle, just not as strong as I know they could be.

They free range, and I know grass isn't the best source of calcium, but my backyard is filled with clover, so perhaps they're getting enough calcium and that's why the snub the oyster shells? Seems a little unlikely to me, but if that's enough... great!

If not should I try offering other sources of calcium? They adore yogurt, but I'm scared to feed them too much dairy. Maybe I should just not worry about it since their eggs are pretty strong? I'm just nervous about them developing a deficiency and then not being able to get them to eat oyster shell.

Thanks in advance for any and all advice

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[Glenda L Heywood]

If it was me I would have some method of putting the oyster shell in a five gallon bucket and use a 4/4 piece of board and pound the oyster shell up good

then put it out there for them and they may like it better

they are probably just not eaters of oyster shell
I always found the smaller the pieces the better they like it
also stir it every day as some chickens are picky and want to go thru it with new pieces on top

I generally thru out mine into the chicken pens every month as then they would pick it up from the soil in the pen

grass gives the eggs more omega 3 oils in them

also you could buy some mineralized grit for pigeons and mix it half and half with the crushed oyster shell

it gives a red color to the grit and the chickens like red color

any questions email me

 

[nhchickmom]

My girls don't really care for oyster shells much either, so I only throw in a handful about every two weeks. Some seem to be interested in them, some not so much. I think they know if they are deficient and will eat the shells if they really need it. If their shells are strong they are probably getting the calcium they need.

Hope this helps!

 

[NotTheMomma]

Most likely they are finding their own natural source of calcium since you aren't seeing thin shells.

I know this isn't scientific evidence, but anyway, my parents raised chickens my entire childhood, and they were fed the egg shells, table scraps, etc., as well as layer pellets, and were let out about half the day or more to free range, and never fed oyster shells! Never an issue with chicken health, or shell quality. My parents were here this weekend, and enjoying the chickens, so I was bombarding them with questions. When I mentioned that I needed to get some oyster shells, Dad said if you're feeding a good layer feed, you don't need it, as the layer feed is fortified with extra calcium, and is the reason you're paying more for it than starter/growth feed.

Hope that helps!

I don't plan on buying any oyster shell now. I'll continue to feed them the egg shells like I'm already doing, and just watch for shell quality! Oh, and I'll probably go ahead and feed those containers of bird grit I had bought when they were chicks that was calcium fortified, just to use them up.

 

[FabulousMandy]

thanks everyone for your help!