Do chickens need oyster shells?

[CIuck]

I am a first time chicken owner and my first chicken (EE) layed at 19 weeks! Do laying chickens need oyster shells? Is it bad that they dont have it next? I am going to get them tommorow but im worried about not feeding it to them... my barred rock is almost 20 weeks does she need them?

 

[The Happster]

I am a first time chicken owner and my first chicken (EE) layed at 19 weeks! Do laying chickens need oyster shells? Is it bad that they dont have it next? I am going to get them tommorow but im worried about not feeding it to them... my barred rock is almost 20 weeks does she need them?

What feed are they on?

If they aren't on layers and you can't get oyster shell soon, crush their eggshell and offer that back to them.

 

[21hens-incharge]

New layers have some calcium in reserve so don't worry.

Just have a separate dish of oyster shell near the food dish. Those that need it will choose the bits they need.

 

[Weeg]

Yes, they do! Oyster shells contain calcium which is very important in egg production, if they don't have it then they will lay soft shell eggs. They are also more likely to get egg bound without it. How old are they though, you don't want to feed until they start laying, and to feed, you can just out some in a bowl on the side. Avery

 

[Ebony Rose]

Oyster shell is not available where I live, but the feed store does sell pulverized egg shell that is used for the same purpose. My flock loves it.

 

[PioneerChicks]

If they are on layer feed then they don't. But if they are on all-flock or something similar they will need either oyster shells or egg shells. I use mostly oyster shells, but every couple of months I provide oyster shells.

 

[Devyn Nagy]

I just feed eggshells back to them. I don't know if you need to wait until they're already laying to feed it to them, though.

 

[Weeg]

I just feed eggshells back to them. I don't know if you need to wait until they're already laying to feed it to them, though.

You don't want to feed oyster shell until the are laying, or else they will overload on calcium.

 

[NatJ]

You can put out a dish of oyster shell at any time. Do not mix it with anything, just put it in a dish by itself.

The ones that are not laying yet may eat a bit of the oyster shell to see what it is, but then they will decide they don't really need it. They won't eat enough to harm themselves.

Yes, you can give eggshells too, or instead of oyster shell. But each hen needs to eat about two eggshells for every one egg she lays, so do not trust eggshell to be enough unless you are buying and eating a lot more eggs than the chickens lay!

 

[CIuck]

What feed are they on?

If they aren't on layers and you can't get oyster shell soon, crush their eggshell and offer that back to them.

They are on layer feed