Clam shells (before I feed to my chickens)

[Short Round]

Hello, I was looking for calcium alternatives for the chickens that weren't oyster shells. Since I live right next to an ocean with an abundance of clam shells I was wondering if these were pulverized could they be fed to them? I collected 1 gal bucket of clam shells and put them on baking sheets, put the oven on broil and left them in there for 1hr until they were brittle. I used a blender to pulverize them into a mostly powder/small shell mixture. Is this safe to feed to them? I could only find a few forum threads discussing this.

Another thought came to mind: Did broiling them in the oven for so long break down the calcium in the shells? Since they are so thick I had to bake them at a high temp for a long time.

Thanks everyone

 

[ChicNmom]

Why don't you just rinse and dry the egg shells, crumble them up and feed them back to the chickens?

 

[Short Round]

Why don't you just rinse and dry the egg shells, crumble them up and feed them back to the chickens?

I will be doing this as well. Thanks

 

[Themellowyellows]

I am not sure..

@LaFleche
@Eggcessive
@Wyrop Rock

Some people who might have some knowledge at this...

 

[FrostRanger]

Why don't you just rinse and dry the egg shells, crumble them up and feed them back to the chickens?

Because it's a net loss in terms of calcium. Sure, they'll get some calcium back from their egg shells, but not enough to replace what they lose. Sure, it helps, but you're still going to need something like oyster shells for them

Dunno the answer regarding the clam shell, I assume it's probably fine but you know what happens when you assume.... so best wait on someone who knows with a bit more certainty lol

 

[FrostRanger]

Also, just curious, is there a reason you're adversed to using oyster shell?

 

[Kenya Mwangi]

Hello, I was looking for calcium alternatives for the chickens that weren't oyster shells. Since I live right next to an ocean with an abundance of clam shells I was wondering if these were pulverized could they be fed to them? I collected 1 gal bucket of clam shells and put them on baking sheets, put the oven on broil and left them in there for 1hr until they were brittle. I used a blender to pulverize them into a mostly powder/small shell mixture. Is this safe to feed to them? I could only find a few forum threads discussing this.

Another thought came to mind: Did broiling them in the oven for so long break down the calcium in the shells? Since they are so thick I had to bake them at a high temp for a long time.

Thanks everyone

Hello Shells of clam and oyster and crayfish and lobster and snails and mollusks all have so much calcium.

I don't know about the broiler on ovens except its purpose is very hot heat from above. I have never used it. The oven heat might be good enough to heat the shells without destroying minerals. But I don't know if heat destroys minerals.

I think making your own feed and vitamins and minerals for you chickens is the most rewarding, creative, responsible, and sustainable thing you could ever do for your chickens.

 

[Kenya Mwangi]

Hello Don't forget to grind up the bones of your chicken that you ate. If you roast a chicken and eat the meat, then boil the bones to make chicken stock, don't forget to grind the bones to feed back to the chickens. That is an idea for even more calcium for free.

 

[Short Round]

Also, just curious, is there a reason you're adversed to using oyster shell?

I would love to use whatever I can get my hands on. It just happens I enjoy the beach and there is an abundance of clam shells on it. If I can beach and do something good for my chickens at the same time I think it's a win-win

 

[Short Round]

Hello Shells of clam and oyster and crayfish and lobster and snails and mollusks all have so much calcium.

I don't know about the broiler on ovens except its purpose is very hot heat from above. I have never used it. The oven heat might be good enough to heat the shells without destroying minerals. But I don't know if heat destroys minerals.

I think making your own feed and vitamins and minerals for you chickens is the most rewarding, creative, responsible, and sustainable thing you could ever do for your chickens.

Thank you for your insight. This is very helpful