Egg shell hardness, diet, minerals?

[wolftracks]

OK I have to add something.

About 90% of the time most feed store employees have no idea what they're talking about. The other part they guess at. These are the same people who sell EEs to people who think they are buying Ameraucanas. I bought at a feed store once where the owner had never owned anything but a cat or dog. Had no idea what he was giving info on and had people asking for help. Matter of fact the info he gave a dog owner, I had to correct. He knew how to sell, but that was it.

Notice I said I bought something there ONCE!

 

[allpeepedout]

Quote:
I just let well emptied uncrushed eggshells air dry, which they do rapidly. (What is reason to wash away protein?) When dry, I toss in plastic container, and as the container fills, every few days I take a flat-bottomed cup and smash them down. When I get a good amount, I start a new container and use out of the crushed one, tossing a handful in the run or the feeder. No odor whatsoever, not much work.

 

[sheila3935]

I can tell when I have fed too many treats I will get a soft shelled egg. I have oyster shell free choice in a bowl for them at all times but if they have had a couple of days of lots of treats then I will get a soft shell so I try not to give them much treats. Maybe go back to giving them kale for treats. This summer they have been getting whats seasonal like corn on the cob blueberries and tomatoes which the LOVE. Last winter they got lots of kale as they were pretty much confined to the coop and run cause of snow and they didnt get soft shell.