eating enough ???

[digitS']

Elly, because they are somewhat close to maturity and because you are "diluting" the amount of calcium with scratch, your pullets diet is probably alright just continuing as you have.

As they begin to kick out those high-protein eggs, it would be better to increase the protein percentages by decreasing the scratch available to them.

The oyster shell would be a good addition when they begin to lay but if layer feed was 100% of their diet, they'd be getting all the calcium they need, anyway.

Steve

 

[Elly]

thanks for all your help, can the chickens get too much calcium?

should I remove the oyster shell once I feed them 100% layer?

Elly

 

[cajunlizz]

Quote:
I myself still add oyster shell ( grit ) like twice a week . I mix like 2 cups of grit to 1.5 gallons of laying pellets

 

[digitS']

Hens that are laying regularly have a huge need for calcium. Without sufficient calcium they will deplete the calcium in their bones and lay soft-shelled eggs. Layer feed has nearly 5 times more calcium than starter or grower feeds.

University of Georgia 2 page pdf on osteoporosis, layer fatigue and egg shell quality.

Hens apparently crave calcium when their reserves fall low and can self-regulate what they eat. Excessive calcium isn't likely to be a problem for adult birds - roosters eat the same feed as hens all the time. But, youngsters get in trouble from having too much in their diet. Having oyster shells around doesn't seem to cause them any problems.

Steve

 

[keljonma]

Quote:
I myself still add oyster shell ( grit ) like twice a week . I mix like 2 cups of grit to 1.5 gallons of laying pellets

We don't add the oyster shell to the layer feed. We put it out separately. If the hens need it, they'll eat it. And our roo never touches it. We also feed grit separately.

 

[Elly]

Again thanks for all the help.

I just never knew how much I enjoy these four gals !!! had I known I'd done this years ago !!!

 

[cajunlizz]

thought grit and oyster shell were basically one and the same .

 

[crtrlovr]

nope; grit can be sand, crushed granite, or small particles they pick up from their surroundings; the grit is necessary to process and help break up their food such as bugs, grasses, chunks of grain & scratch, etc. Oyster shell is crushed oyster shells as a calcium source for laying hens.

 

[pkeeler]

thought grit and oyster shell were basically one and the same .

Grit is indigestible and gets caught in the gizzard and is used to grind food. Oyster shell supplies calcium because it is digestible. Since it is digestible it cannot be used as grit by the chicken.​