eating egg shells

[Mrs. K]

Yes, I have the oyster shell out, free choice, and a little mixed in with the feed (it spilled).

Yet, I started a compost pile near their house, and if I let them free range, I have to be right there, with our predators. they circle the compost pile, and any egg shell they pull out of the wire fencing. They will jump, and flap their wings to 'hover' to get a bit of shell higher up. When one gets one, they chase her down and eat them like they have not had food for months. The are desperate for them, but leave the oyster shell nearly completely alone.

Any ideas? I have never fed them the shells back to them, cause I have seen where that might lead to egg eating. mk

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Your chickens won't eat their eggs if you give them back their egg shells.

I feed mine egg shells I just mix it in with their pellet when ever the jar of shells gets full.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Sometimes I boil the eggs, cool them and crush them up, shell and all to feed the girls. They will run off with a piece of shell before they eat the egg itself. And they have free oyster shell all the time too.

Go figure

 

[RocketDad]

I dry my eggshells in the toaster oven, then crush them by putting them in a plastic mayo jar with a rock and shaking the rock around. I mix the smaller bits into whatever kitchen treats I'm giving them. Works great in leftover oatmeal.

 

[cybercat]

Eating their own egg shells will NOT make them break and eat their eggs. Egg eating usually starts as an acciedent that a chicken figures out and then makes a habit of eating her eggs. The acciendent being she broke the egg and then eate it then put 2 and 2 toghether.

Many of us feed egg shells back to our chickens. Even the whole egg either cook or raw. I know I have come out of coop crack a few eggs and gave them to the chickens raw. I do not have egg eaters but one will get broken sometimes in nest and eaten. I also feed shell back after we have eaten many eggs and they are dried out. Those I crushed up in a bucket and then throw off the steps out back for them. I free range and when I do that they high tail it over to eat the shell bits. I do not bother with a compost pile anymore as I have chickens and they do a much better job.

There coop bedding goes right in the garden every year. They go over the garden all fall and winter too working it. I throw out all edible to the chickens and they make fast work of them.