crabs?

[gypsyfarm123]

Hi all. I was wondering if I can feed my 2month old hens crab shells? I went crabbing this morning and I've read that oyster shells are good for them, so I figure,why not crush up the left over shells and give them to my chicks? All comments welcome..thank you<<Craig

 

[HEChicken]

Oyster shell is given to laying hens who need a supplement of calcium to produce healthy egg shells. However too much calcium fed to chicks too young to lay can actually have a harmful affect on their organs. If I were you, I'd save them, dry them out and in 2-3 months when your chicks are closer to laying age, you can crush them up and offer them as a supplement.

 

[turbodog]

Oh Lord, I'm not even gonna describe my first thought when I saw the posting title "crabs" in the Raising Baby Chicks section!

 

[mikensara]

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I thought the same i am sure

 

[MuckyPuppy]

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[ranchhand]

I'd not bother cleaning and drying the shells. I'd stick them in the freezer and save them for when the hens start laying.

 

[Chemguy]

There's a pic somewhere around here of someone feeding lobster to their chicks, so I imagine crab is OK too. As for the shells, they do not have the same amount of calcium that oyster shells do. Crab and lobster shells are mostly made of chitin, a protein. Oyster shells are mostly calcium carbonate.

 

[gypsyfarm123]

Thankyou very much<craig