calcium sources

[Perris]

Does anyone know, does a cuttlefish skeleton contain calcium that chickens could access if I ground it up? And if I collect oyster shells from the beach, do I need to do anything other than wash them and smash them up before offering them to the hens?

 

[cavemanrich]

Any bone that you would grind up would be a source of calcium. Cracked Oyster Shells are just that. Pick up and produce your own. The purchased stuff is no different. You can also offer crushed limestone. Chickens will pick up and utilize as grit. As the grit wears down, (inside the gizzard) the calcium is absorbed by the chickens digestion.
I am assuming you are feeding back all the egg shells (crushed for easy consumption) already.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,, and

 

[Perris]

thank you!

 

[janz70]

I use crushed oyster shell and egg shell but wondered if garden lime, which is crushed limestone could be added to water as a boost

 

[GC-Raptor]

I use crushed oyster shell and egg shell but wondered if garden lime, which is crushed limestone could be added to water as a boost

I would not, you could over do it. If you are getting thin shells, they could be lacking vitamins and or minerals. Like vitamin D, K, manganese. To name a few. A layers feed or All Flock feed with Oyster shell in a separate container should give them all that they need as long as you limit treats to what they can consume in 10 minutes once or twice a day. Treats are anything other than Layers or All-Flock feed. I feed a 18% Protein layers feed, and the only treats my girls get are a mixed bird seed. I let them free range up to an hour before sunset daily weather permitting. GC

 

[janz70]

usually only give layers then let free range for about 3 hours but I was curious about when they go full production and are laying an egg a day

 

[lazy gardener]

I did a google search regarding cuttle bone, and it sounds like it would be good for chickens. Here's the article:

https://www.animalwised.com/nutritional-properties-of-cuttlebone-for-pets-618.html

and some excerpts from it:

This shell is made of aragonite, and it is very appreciated in animal care thanks to its high calcium and mineral salt content.

Apart from this huge amount of calcium carbonate, cuttlefish shell includes different essential trace elements - withvarying composition percentages - in its composition. Among the nutrients of cuttlebone you can also find calcium phosphate, It also contains calcium phosphate, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus and other mineral salts.

 

[GC-Raptor]

usually only give layers then let free range for about 3 hours but I was curious about when they go full production and are laying an egg a day

My 5 hens are 22 months old and I just feed layers feed that has 3.8% calcium with Oyster Shells in a separate container. I got 27 eggs last week. GC

 

[Perris]

thanks for the detailed data LG! and to everyone else your info too!

 

[janz70]

if only - winter here and my 22 laid 11 last week