Calcium source other than oyster shell or eggshell

[JaeG]

Caged birds are given cuttlefish bone as a calcium source and I know some people crush that up for their quail. So that's another option if you can't find the limestone.

 

[Susan-B]

Caged birds are given cuttlefish bone as a calcium source and I know some people crush that up for their quail. So that's another option if you can't find the limestone.

Good to know. Thanks!

 

[Sequel]

Caged birds are given cuttlefish bone as a calcium source and I know some people crush that up for their quail. So that's another option if you can't find the limestone.

But cuttlefish bone is from a sea creature so I’d be careful with that too! They are mollusks related to squid and octopus.

 

[JaeG]

But cuttlefish bone is from a sea creature so I’d be careful with that too! They are mollusks related to squid and octopus.

Do you have a fish allergy too? If its only shellfish you are allergic to then it would be fine, but if you are also allergic to fish then definitely avoid it.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I’m allergic to oyster shells and I read this page in my book that says egg shells alone are not enough.

I am pretty sure the food ill be feeding also has added calcium (New country organics)

If you feed a layer feed and feed back the egg shells and limit their treats to kitchen scraps with the egg shells mixed in, you should be fine.

Make sure they have layers feed available at sunrise and before roosting time.
You want them to fill their crop with layers feed early morning and before roosting at night.

Give scraps, treats mid-morning, early afternoon if possible.
My Hens and Pullets have access to feed and water when I turn on lights at 5 am till I lockup coops a few minutes after sunset. GC

 

[Susan-B]

But cuttlefish bone is from a sea creature so I’d be careful with that too! They are mollusks related to squid and octopus.

ugh, I thought they were fish.....hmm, may need to look into it

 

[jher77]

Crushed limestone​

This is the type of calcium most commonly found in commercial laying feeds, but you can also purchase it on its own.

Be careful in the type of limestone you feed, however, as dolomitic limestone contains larger amounts of magnesium and can interfere with calcium absorption.

I can't find a calcitic limestone here. Maybe you can order it online. Dolomitic lime is very easy to get but the calcium to magnesium ratio varies.

 

[Ridgerunner]

(New country organics)

I saw several different Layer feeds on the website I found but could not find any guaranteed analysis on the one I looked at. The analysis should be on the tag and show percent of basic nutrients like protein, salt, fiber, calcium, fats and others. So I'm not sure what is going on. I did find an ingredients list, you might want to check that on the actual feed you are getting. With your allergies I'd want to double check that instead of relying on what someone over the phone told you. Some people are more knowledgeable than others.

If the Layer feed is all they eat then the amount of calcium in Layer (should be around 4%) should provide all the calcium they need for egg shells. I don't know what the percent of calcium is in that feed. If they eat much else other than that feed they may not get enough calcium for egg shells.

They can get calcium from certain leafy plants they eat or maybe from certain creepy crawlies if they are lucky enough to catch some of them. Certain hard shelled bugs might be a source of calcium but a lot of hard shelled bugs have keratin, a protein, not calcium so not any help. If your native rock is limestone they can get all the calcium they need from that. It's not about what is in one bite, it's about how many total grams of calcium they eat in a day from all sources.

Your egg shells will tell you if they are getting enough calcium. If the shells are hard they are doing OK. If the shells are thin or even soft they are not.

Feeding them back their own eggshells can be a good calcium supplement. By themselves they are not enough, chickens need some calcium for body function and their bodies don't absorb all the calcium they eat. A certain percentage goes on out the back end. It's possible that the calcium they get from eating their shells will be enough when added to their sources but there are no guarantees.

 

[Show Sebright]

I’m allergic to oyster shells and I read this page in my book that says egg shells alone are not enough. What else can I use? I am pretty sure the food ill be feeding also has added calcium (New country organics)
View attachment 2596326

If my bird ever get egg bound I give them yogurt. No I am not saying it is the best thing but it get calcium in them quickly.

 

[Susan-B]

I saw several different Layer feeds on the website I found but could not find any guaranteed analysis on the one I looked at. The analysis should be on the tag and show percent of basic nutrients like protein, salt, fiber, calcium, fats and others. So I'm not sure what is going on. I did find an ingredients list, you might want to check that on the actual feed you are getting. With your allergies I'd want to double check that instead of relying on what someone over the phone told you. Some people are more knowledgeable than others.

If the Layer feed is all they eat then the amount of calcium in Layer (should be around 4%) should provide all the calcium they need for egg shells. I don't know what the percent of calcium is in that feed. If they eat much else other than that feed they may not get enough calcium for egg shells.

They can get calcium from certain leafy plants they eat or maybe from certain creepy crawlies if they are lucky enough to catch some of them. Certain hard shelled bugs might be a source of calcium but a lot of hard shelled bugs have keratin, a protein, not calcium so not any help. If your native rock is limestone they can get all the calcium they need from that. It's not about what is in one bite, it's about how many total grams of calcium they eat in a day from all sources.

Your egg shells will tell you if they are getting enough calcium. If the shells are hard they are doing OK. If the shells are thin or even soft they are not.

Feeding them back their own eggshells can be a good calcium supplement. By themselves they are not enough, chickens need some calcium for body function and their bodies don't absorb all the calcium they eat. A certain percentage goes on out the back end. It's possible that the calcium they get from eating their shells will be enough when added to their sources but there are no guarantees.

I contacted the company directly and they both emailed and answered on the phone. This is what I do for human food as well for my kids and I. They were very forthcoming in their information so I was pleased with them

this is what the tag on the food says