calcium sources

[Bobby Basham]

I like to scour through all the threads, new or old, and someone mentioned that feeding crushed egg shells back to the chickens have no benefit, because their stomach acid neutralizes the calcium in them...Hmmm. --BB

 

[cavemanrich]

I like to scour through all the threads, new or old, and someone mentioned that feeding crushed egg shells back to the chickens have no benefit, because their stomach acid neutralizes the calcium in them...Hmmm. --BB

That someone's opinion is wrong. I feed all the shells back to my girls.
I also offer oyster shell free choice. I feed my chickens Alflock @ 2% calcium. Some are layers and some are retired. Layers do need 4% calcium, so they get their supplemental calcium from egg shells, oyster shells, and anything else they pick up free ranging. I have no calcium deficiency issues in my flock. All my pet chickens live long lives.
Nice seeing you here, outside of where I usually see you. Still waiting on the pix of those CUTIES.

 

[Mosey2003]

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure chickens don't have stomach acid really? The reason you want to offer oyster shell is because it takes longer for the pieces to be ground up in their gizzards, which will give them a steady release of calcium overnight, when they're doing the most egg-shell-making. Feeding egg shells back is fine, but it's preferable to have both, or just the oyster shell.

 

[Bobby Basham]

That someone's opinion is wrong. I feed all the shells back to my girls.
I also offer oyster shell free choice. I feed my chickens Alflock @ 2% calcium. Some are layers and some are retired. Layers do need 4% calcium, so they get their supplemental calcium from egg shells, oyster shells, and anything else they pick up free ranging. I have no calcium deficiency issues in my flock. All my pet chickens live long lives.
Nice seeing you here, outside of where I usually see you. Still waiting on the pix of those CUTIES.

Hey, cavemanrich...good to see you. Why does feeding chickens have to be so complicated? The professionals have done their research and have come up with feeds essential for all the chickens' different stages of development. Why try to re-invent the wheel? I'm not knocking any supplements whatsoever, but some folks go completely overboard with feeding. I can appreciate a diet for those that are breeding and raising them for show...their needs are slightly off the beaten path from those that are raising backyard flocks.

My CUTIES are huge...Two RIR's are male, and one is crowing and trying to mount all the girls and they're not happy. The other one is silent. Then there's the Austra-White (new??? BA over a Leghorn). This one has a big comb, larger wattles and it has two extra-long tail feathers extending from the rest of the tail. I'm making a call and they're all going to the Humane Society. I can't even give them away, no takers. They are beautiful, over-fed and spoiled.

 

[lazy gardener]

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure chickens don't have stomach acid really? The reason you want to offer oyster shell is because it takes longer for the pieces to be ground up in their gizzards, which will give them a steady release of calcium overnight, when they're doing the most egg-shell-making. Feeding egg shells back is fine, but it's preferable to have both, or just the oyster shell.

I had to do a quick google search of pH of a chicken gut and found this table, along with reference to attached article. I have done previous search regarding absorption/benefit of calcium derived from egg shell vs. from oyster shell. One study indicated that both sources provided similar benefit. Other written material states that oyster shell is preferred b/c of the larger size of the particles, so they take longer to break down in the gizzard. Further reading states that egg shell calcium is of huge benefit in preventing osteoporosis in menopausal and post menopausal women. So, based on this information, I conclude that egg shell is great, perhaps of more benefit if offered later in the day. I offer both to my birds.

Function and Structure of Gastro Intestinal Tract
Transit time and pH in poultry GIT
GIT Segment Transit Time(Min) pH
Crop 50 5.5
Proventriculus / gizzard 90 2.5-3.5
Duodenum 5-8 5-6
4 more rows
Maintaining Gut Integrity - The Poultry Site
www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/978/maintaining-gut-integrity