Chick Feeder for Oyster Shell and Grit?

[Eilsel]

Just curious... I'm still a long way off as I won't even get my chicks until March so I won't need an answer to this question for many months... but I was wondering if I could use a mason jar chick feeder with a base like the one pictured for oyster shell and grit (separate feeders) when the girls are big? My family gave me a few for Christmas (once everyone knew I was planning for chickens apparently I became easy to shop for!). I was thinking it would be nice to have a use for them after the chicks become chickens.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Just curious... I'm still a long way off as I won't even get my chicks until March so I won't need an answer to this question for many months... but I was wondering if I could use a mason jar chick feeder with a base like the one pictured for oyster shell and grit (separate feeders) when the girls are big? My family gave me a few for Christmas (once everyone knew I was planning for chickens apparently I became easy to shop for!). I was thinking it would be nice to have a use for them after the chicks become chickens.

this should have had a plastic jar for a top unless they did not pick one up when it was bought if you go to any feed store they will have tops but if you can fit the jar to the feeder even better right

 

[CANVASBACK82]

A mason jar will fit these. Some mayo jars will fit to just clean and sterilize. Yes it will work on shells and grit.

 

[PirateGirl]

I feel like this would work for Oyster shell, but not work quite as well for crushed egg shells. Also I prefer plastic over a glass mason jar. My girls routinely knock the whole thing over (and/or the wind blows it around), and I'd be paranoid of broken glass in the run.

 

[blackdog043]

Yes they would work for both, IMO. I attached a pic, that has the same type your asking about. This is an old pic when I had just moved them into the coop. I don't use them anymore. The one hanging on the left had fermented feed and the one on the bucket with the mason jar had grit.(i was taking it out, that's why it was just sitting there in the pic) I used blue painters tape and a piece of 14 gauge wire to hang it. It worked great and didn't have to worry about them getting knocked over.

 

[AlleysChicks]

I use the plastic version in my coops to hold oyster shell. Seems the easiest way.

Edited to add: my girls are a bit rough and the feeder usually ends up on the other dog the run. So for me plastic is safest.

 

[chickenmeadow]

Just curious... I'm still a long way off as I won't even get my chicks until March so I won't need an answer to this question for many months... but I was wondering if I could use a mason jar chick feeder with a base like the one pictured for oyster shell and grit (separate feeders) when the girls are big? My family gave me a few for Christmas (once everyone knew I was planning for chickens apparently I became easy to shop for!). I was thinking it would be nice to have a use for them after the chicks become chickens.

How nice you have such a supportive group around you to encourage yourchickens to come. Most people I've met seem to have a fond or funny story about chickens that brings them back to times in their past, & they can live vicariously thru what you will do. I've got tons of stories from personal experience & about others that had them.

I once made a tiny shelf to fit one of those on & put eyelets in the wall to put a small bungee cord around the jar to hold it in place; it kept the flock from scratching up floor stuff & covering up the holes of the feeder. Best wishes.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Two empty Vienna sausage cans, one for grit and the other for oyster-shell is more than sufficient. Use a 16 penny nail or a drill to make 4 or 5 holes in the bottom of the Vienna can then drill 4 holes (like this : : ) in one side to use to wire the cans up against the coop in such a fashion that they are stationary. You don't want them swinging around because that will spill the grit and oyster shell. Try to position your Vienna cans about breast high and close to the roost. That will prevent your birds from scratching shavings, manure, dirt, and other trash into the grit and oyster-shells. There should be enough grit or shell in just one empty Vienna sausage can to last most backyard flock owners for months, if not for years.

Forget about giving hens recycled eggshells because eggshells are useless at producing other eggshells. A hens' stomach acid neutralizes the calcium in tiny eggshell fragments to fast for it to be absorbed by the hens' digestive track.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Forget about giving hens recycled eggshells because eggshells are useless at producing other eggshells. A hens' stomach acid neutralizes the calcium in tiny eggshell fragments to fast for it to be absorbed by the hens' digestive track.

 

[blackdog043]

Two empty Vienna sausage cans, one for grit and the other for oyster-shell is more than sufficient.

Except, she wants to use the bases that she received as gifts, which will work just fine.