Do you HAVE to feed oyster shell??

[purplepeep]

I have 17 pullets who are 19 weeks old, and some have started laying. I am getting 4-5 eggs a day. So far all the eggs I have found are absolutely perfect, and the shells are nice and tough. Do I absolutely have to feed them oyster shell?? If their shells are nice and strong and smooth, is there any reason to intervene? They free-range all day, and are locked in their coop after they have all gone to roost. I am free-feeding them comercial layer ration in their coop. Should I only introduce oyster shell if they are having a problem with their egg shells?? Thanks for any insight anyone might have for me

 

[keesmom]

I've never fed oyster shell and I've never had a problem with thin shells.

-Cindy in MA

 

[Scoop]

I haven't done it yet. Old time farmers around here laugh at that. If you free range them you shouldn't have to. I have lots of natural sand and pebbles that they eat on their own. I haven't had a problems with egg quality.

 

[lavacaw]

No. A lot of the commercial feed contains phosphate, calcium, etc. to promote shell strength. I have never feed oyster shell since my first batch of chickens and it has rarely made a difference.

 

[Tweeza]

I feed mine back their egg shells and have never had a problem. About a month ago I purchased a bag of oyster shell because everyone seems to feed it but my hens wouldn't eat it. Put it with their egg shells and they still left it behind. I believe everyone occasionally will have an egg without a shell. I had two when the girls were first laying.