CAN YOU FEED CHICKENS EGG SHELLS????

[Wizbop]

Quote:
Yes, this is my question. I guess I've got time before I have to worry about this. My girls are only 8 weeks. I don't need to start this until they are laying, right? Or can/should I start w/ calcium now?

 

[goldeneggtees]

Hi Wizbop, I think they only need additional calcium when they start laying but not 100% on that.

 

[sammy2]

Hi I baked some shells yesterday for my 2 chickens but they got a little browned in spots - but not burnt (like blackened) are these ok to grind up and put out

One of them is making shells that are so thin the chickens crush them in the nest.

thank you!

 

[SallyF]

Yes, Sammy2, just crush those shells and put them out there. I've baked 'em, scorched 'em and the chickens eat them just the same.

 

[sammy2]

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[littlemama]

I thought of rinsing eggshells before I feed them to chickens,grind them into powder,then I thought the are born eating egg white already so I am not worried about ti. they get calcium

 

[Debs55]

I feed my girls egg shells. I don't grind them or rinse them or bake them. I just throw them on the ground and step on them to crush them alittle. Sometimes if I have a cracked egg I'll just throw a whole egg down. And I've never had a problem with egg eating or anything

 

[Debs55]

Yes, this is my question. I guess I've got time before I have to worry about this. My girls are only 8 weeks. I don't need to start this until they are laying, right? Or can/should I start w/ calcium now?

I just use egg shells. Not oyster shell. Along with my layer feed of course. And no extra calcium until they are laying. It would be dangerous to give it to them now. That goes for the layer feed too

 

[melina90]

I also crush the egg shells and give it back to the chickens together with the table scraps. I found an eaten egg once, but that was before I started giving egg shells, so I can't say it has encouraged egg-eating in my flock anyways.

 

[CoopRanger]

The best way I've found is to keep a decent size jar (holds about 1 1/2 dozen shells) under the kitchen sink. This is as close as you can get to where the shells are cracked and ready to start drying. When this jar is nearly full, I simply dump it into a 2.5 gallon bucket in the dryest spot in the house. About 2 days later they are dry, so I crush them with a wooden mashing block I made specifically for this purpose. I will then leave them in the bucket and crush others on top until the hens need more or the bucket is full, whichever comes first. Remember they do not need to be powder, but crush them to bite size pieces. Either mix it in the feed, or give free range, just try not to let them run out. If you sell eggs you should additionally feed oyster shells as well. I do not see any need to bake in oven and blend or food processor, as this does the same job, but takes more effort. This is only nessesary feed to laying hens, but won't hurt roosters or young.