Crushing Egg shells

[lazy gardener]

Sounds better then hand smashing them

In the beginning, I would dry them, then heat them in the microwave to "kill any possible bacteria", then put them in a plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin. Now, I don't even rinse them. I figure that any albumen that dries in the shell is just a bit of extra protein. You can tell that I've relaxed my standards a bit, yes?! Keep it simple.

Probably any time. It's not as high as level of calcium as oyster shells. Maybe just put it in a container on the side for now some will need to start building calcium if they are possibly earlier layers. I read 16 weeks is the best time to introduce calcium.

I agree thought I don't take much extra time in she'll prep. I rinse then quickly then leave them in a bowl on the counter till is full or bothering me. Either I smash them a few times with a cup or just dump them in the run and stomp on them. If I take them out right away I usually don't even rinse them. They don't have to be finely ground just so the chickens don't get the idea that is an egg. Honestly my girls seem to prefer larger chips rather then powder.

agreed.

 

[Ecowtent]

I have been saving in a mason jar. They crush as they fill up the jar. I can substitute for oyster grit? Just toss out on the ground?

 

[lazy gardener]

Yes you can, how ever, "THEY SAY" that egg shell does not provide as much calcium benefit as oyster shell. IMO, anything is better than nothing, if you are feeding layer. If you're feeding multi flock or something else not formulated for layers, then you might want to offer oyster shell, and save your egg shells for them.

 

[LovesAGoodYolk]

i'd wait until they are 5 months old.

 

[LovesAGoodYolk]

To answer the original question about how to feed the chickens egg shells, this is what I do. Wash out the shells as you use them so they don't start smelling awful. I collect mine in the large cup of my Magic Bullet blender. After the cup is fullish I add a cup of water and blend away. Only takes seconds. Will be super fine. That's good. Now, take a plastic dish tub or something about that size. Put some water in it. Add a little diatomaceous earth, food grade, to the water. Also the egg shells, some unfiltered apple cider vinegar and some oregano oil. Stir this mixture completely then add enough dry chicken feed to completely soak up the concoction and stir it some more so that the ingredients are evenly mixed in. I don't do this every day of course. It is just a very easy way to get all 4 ingredients down them occasionally. Also they love wet food.

So the other day, I arrive home, get out of the car, come walking up towards the house, and all the chickens and ducks come running to me and all start talking to me like crazy. The human rooster says, "They don't talk to me like that!" So I told him the truth. "You don't feed them any treats like I do." I hope one of you appreciates what I found to be humorous.

 

[FlyWheel]

I do something similar; I rinse out the organic matter with water and some scrubbing with my finger, then when I have enough I 'bake' them in my toaster oven @ 200F for ten minutes to completely dry them out and kill of any bacteria/ mold spores. THEN I crunch them up, and grind them in my Magic Bullet. I guess it's working because the bin I leave out for them in the pen never gets moldy, even if the shell-grit does get wet.

 

[Ecowtent]

Thank you

 

[Beekissed]

I don't even crush them... I just throw them into the coop as is, along with the rest of the kitchen scraps. They will eat them if they want to, if not, they get buried under the litter for the worms. In the winter time those egg shells become something to peck at and do when they are confined to the coop by deep snows.