Chickens devoured oyster shell!!

[Herscovitch]

We just starting getting eggs from one of our 18 week old hens this week. I am switching from start and grow feed to layena feed. I also added some oyster shell in a pie tin in the chicken run. The next day the entire dish of oyster shell was gone. Is this normal? I read that they will eat what they need to supplement their diet. Will eating that much hurt them? Should I add more to the tin? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Rich386]

We just starting getting eggs from one of our 18 week old hens this week. I am switching from start and grow feed to layena feed. I also added some oyster shell in a pie tin in the chicken run. The next day the entire dish of oyster shell was gone. Is this normal? I read that they will eat what they need to supplement their diet. Will eating that much hurt them? Should I add more to the tin? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

I had mine in cages and they did the same thing they just seemed to never have enough. After transfer to a coop and run I gave them a feeder full so they could eat what they wanted. They cut themselves way back. Soon after I started to free range and they rarely touch it now. I believe that they know what they need and will only eat it as they need it.

 

[Rich386]

We just starting getting eggs from one of our 18 week old hens this week. I am switching from start and grow feed to layena feed. I also added some oyster shell in a pie tin in the chicken run. The next day the entire dish of oyster shell was gone. Is this normal? I read that they will eat what they need to supplement their diet. Will eating that much hurt them? Should I add more to the tin? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

I had mine in cages and they did the same thing they just seemed to never have enough. After transfer to a coop and run I gave them a feeder full so they could eat what they wanted. They cut themselves way back. Soon after I started to free range and they rarely touch it now. I believe that they know what they need and will only eat it as they need it.

 

[casportpony]

You might also want to give them some greens that are high in calcium... Mine get alfalfa hay, kale, spinach and collard greens.

-Kathy