Do my egg laying hens still need oyster shell

[shannon84]

My hens are older and hardly lay eggs, but now they are done for the season. Do they still need supplements for egg laying even though they are not laying? Thanks!

 

[sourland]

I'd provide it on the side and they will help themselves if/when they need it.

 

[JedJackson]

If they have feed with calcium in it, then you could probably get by without the oyster shell until spring. But it doesn't hurt to leave a little out, like sourland suggests. They'll only eat what they need.

 

[shannon84]

If they have feed with calcium in it, then you could probably get by without the oyster shell until spring. But it doesn't hurt to leave a little out, like sourland suggests. They'll only eat what they need.

I don't feed them laying feed just because of my rooster, I was told it's hard for his kidneys. Is that true? I feel torn on what to do for him and the girls

 

[blackdog043]

Just continue with what your doing. You can leave oyster shell out year round, even though they may not touch it. Some feed layer and some don't with roosters in the flock. Yes, calcium it's said to be bad for chicks and roosters. I don't have a rooster anymore, but I use 20% starter/grower, with oyster shell in a separate container.

 

[snow5164]

If you take it away it could affect them negatively, but if you leave it out it won’t hurt anyone .... my roosters all eat layer feed by the way

 

[JedJackson]

I don't feed them laying feed just because of my rooster, I was told it's hard for his kidneys. Is that true? I feel torn on what to do for him and the girls

You're doing great with no calcium feed and oyster shell on the side. The rooster doesn't need as much calcium because he doesn't make egg shells.

 

[chickengeorgeII]

I don't feed them laying feed just because of my rooster, I was told it's hard for his kidneys. Is that true? I feel torn on what to do for him and the girls

The old saw about laying mash or pellets harming a roosters' kidneys is I my opinion a lot of bunk that was first thought up in one of the "humane" organizations in an effort to overly complicate the keeping of backyard chickens. These originations hope is that you will throw up your hands in frustration and stop keeping chickens.

 

[cmom]

Most people won't agree with me but I put some oyster shells and grit in their feeders but I have 40# hanging feeders in all of my coops. I used to put it in side dishes but they kept getting knocked over and the birds will take what they want. I feed my males the same feed as my females. I also give them a mixture of grains as treats in the evenings when I collect the eggs so since chickens don't have teeth to grind their food they need the grit for their gizzards to grind the grains. Here it's all sand so they can't get it naturally.

 

[cmom]

The old saw about laying mash or pellets harming a roosters' kidneys is I my opinion a lot of bunk that was first thought up in one of the "humane" organizations in an effort to overly complicate the keeping of backyard chickens. These originations hope is that you will throw up your hands in frustration and stop keeping chickens.