Crushed egg shells for calcium supplement?

[pgpoultry]

Yes, they are good for this purpose. I roast mine first, but you don't have to,


Sandie

 

[lukus]

Well thank you all for your responses. I had just never seen it mentioned, only threads about oyster shells.

 

[jomercer]

Quote:
You aren't feeding back any pathogens they don't already have and, presumably, already have antibodies for. Why make more work for yourself?

There's lots of stuff to get from the commercial laying operations I've seen. And the salmonella in the news lately is a good example of the "stuff" to watch out for.

 

[woodmort]

Quote:
You aren't feeding back any pathogens they don't already have and, presumably, already have antibodies for. Why make more work for yourself?

There's lots of stuff to get from the commercial laying operations I've seen. And the salmonella in the news lately is a good example of the "stuff" to watch out for.

I assume OP was talking about shells from OP's own hens--unless they've already been infected, they aren't going to infect themselves.

 

[greyhorsewoman]

I'm with the other 'utilitarians.' Shells are thrown in with the rest of the kitchen scraps 'as is.' We feed them daily to our chickens. Have done it that way for YEARS. Never had egg-eaters develop from the practice. Not using other energy sources needlessly (purchased or mine). We've eaten and sold a LOT of eggs over this time frame without incident.

 

[ericsplls]

I thought about cooking mine before feeding them back to the chickens. Then I remembered what happens when I drop an egg in the coop or a young pullet lays one sitting on the roost. They get devoured in a couple blinks. I decided that if they will eat a cracked egg and not become egg eaters they will be fine eating shells. I think some are born egg eaters and others pick it up from those already doing it.

 

[msteresaann]

I have used egg shells to feed my small house birds, way before we had chickens. I nuke em in the microwave for a few seconds before I crush them. I have never had an egg eater.

 

[Yay Chicks!]

I rinse mine and put them in a hot oven for a little while, but it totally stinks up the house. I may end up getting more casual about it, but that's what I'm doing for now...
Oh, and then i crush them and add them to oyster shell, because I have it.