Do I still need to offer oyster shell?

[JoeInPA]

Hi all, I just recently bought my first bag of feed since I got rehomed my rooster. Now that I have all girls (4 total), I switched from the green Purina Flock raiser crumbles to the light blue Purina Layena crumbles. Previously I was offering oyster shell and grit on the side in separate dispensers and I still have those out. On the Flock Raiser, the girls were downing the oyster shell. They've only been on the Layena for a week or less, so it hasn't really been long enough for me to monitor their oyster shell intake.

I know the Layena has calcium in it, but should I continue to offer the oyster shell on the side? I will continue to offer the grit regardless.

Also is one feeder enough for 4 birds? I previously had two feeders in the coop but I did that so the girls could eat separately from the rooster (which I no longer have). Are two feeders still necessary? Thanks!

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

I would continue to feed an all flock or grower feed since you have a rooster. Too much calcium isn’t good for roosters. Continue to offer oyster shell for your hens.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Short answer - continue to offer the oyster shell on the side.

Long answer - If all they eat is the Layer they should get enough calcium for their egg shells. If they eat other low-calcium foods they may not. It's not about how much calcium is in one bite, it's how many total grams do they eat in a day, and even then it's averaged over a few days.

They may be getting extra calcium from another source. Some weeds they eat may contain calcium, so can some of the creepy crawlies if they are lucky enough to be able to get them. If you are in limestone country they may be getting calcium from the rocks they eat for grit. It is possible they don't need the extra calcium, but it is also possible they do. Your egg shells should tell you. If thy are hard and thick then the chickens are getting enough calcium from some source. If they are thin or soft, then they need more calcium.

 

[GRB73]

I don't think it would hurt to continue offering the shell, this way the hens can take extra if they need it.
I started flock raiser last fall when the ladies were molting and never went back to layer feed. Flock Raiser has extra protein for the molting. It also has less calcium, which is good for my non laying hen (and for roosters). I always offer oyster shell on the side, even when I was feeding the laying formula.

I think one feeder is fine for four hens, so long as you don't have to keep refilling it.

 

[JoeInPA]

The egg shells I get are plenty strong and thick. I just want to make sure they aren't getting too much calcium. I bought the Layena because I don't have any roosters anymore and thought it might be better suited for laying hens. I'll leave it to one feeder for now, if I feel like I'm constantly refilling it, I'll put the other back in.

 

[slordaz]

Anytime you have a mixed flock it is best to use flock raiser with oyster shell available for the hens, the roosters need very little and will mess em up with 2 much calcium, just my personal experience and preference though so it's up to you to decide if you want to feed your rooster and hens separately to maintain them healthy

 

[JoeInPA]

Sorry if there is some confusion, I do not have a rooster. I have all hens.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

While I no longer use layer feed at any time, when I did I still offered os as, to me, it is really inexpensive insurance. While layer *should* provide sufficient calcium to most birds, there is an advantage, imo, to allowing them the opportunity to self regulate as their bodies tell them to increase beyond what the feed provides

 

[RoosterML]

The egg shells I get are plenty strong and thick. I just want to make sure they aren't getting too much calcium. I bought the Layena because I don't have any roosters anymore and thought it might be better suited for laying hens. I'll leave it to one feeder for now, if I feel like I'm constantly refilling it, I'll put the other back in.

Sounds like your doing just fine

 

[Acre4Me]

You’re fine with just the layer feed. But, since you have oyster shell, continue to offer it. If you run out, then they were eating it. If you run out and their shells are thinner, bu another bag of shell.
Yes, always have two feeders if possible. Sometimes one chicken gets ostracized or picked on and one thing that can happen is that one chicken is kept from the feeder. This is usually alleviated with two feeders in two locations or spread far enough apart that a bully cannot patrol both feeders. We’ve had this happen and the bully still monitored the one feeder, but never the other feeder, so the picked on bird was able to eat.