Egg Shells or Oyster shells

[downstownlady]

My chicks are just about ready to start laying in about 3 weeks (16 wks old then). I read somewhere that Egg Shells are a good source of calcium...but I swear I can't remember. Is this right, or was I imagineing things again...lol??? IF it is true, then is it a good substitute for Oyster Shells or should I should I give them 1 or the other or both??? Any opinions, advise??? Can you tell I'm pretty excited???

 

[OregonChickenGal]

They're both a good source of calicum, but I find just giving oyster shell much easier. I give it to them free choice. If you decide to give egg shells, make sure you boil them first. You don't want your chickens getting a taste for raw eggs.

 

[cletus the rooster]

are you feeding laying mash?if you are shell of either kind is not really needed

 

[erin76]

i keep oyster shell free choice, and when we have eggshells I rinse them out really good and then microwave them for a minute and a half. When they cool, I crush them up really good and add to the dish of oyster shell.

 

[suzettex5]

No, youre not imagining things

Alot of us feed the egg shells right back to our layers! I just let mine sit a day till they are dried, I find they crunch up easier with the potato masher. I also offer oyster shell, and feed lay pellets. I hope I'm not performing overkill! My hens free range too. In my defense of possible overkill, I do have at least 40 chickens sharing the bounty, so I am hoping no one is getting too much!

 

[downstownlady]

Thank you so much!!!

I just love this group...and my Chickie Babies love you too!!!

 

[Yay Chicks!]

I read somewhere on here that there is a difference in the ration of calcium to some other mineral that caused some people to prefer oyster shell over chicken shell. Sorry, I can't remember the details. However, some chickens won't eat oyster shell and then clean, cooked and crushed egg shell is a good alternative.

 

[ChickenToes]

I started out with oyster shell, then switched to egg shells. The quality of the eggs was the same on both, so in my opinion, you may as well save your money and just feed their shells back to them.

 

[TanksHill]

 

[woodmort]

Quote:
Sorry, gotta respectively disagree--just let them dry and bust them up. While some will tell you that they need to be boiled, bake, nuked or whatever, but it isn't necessary. If you're feeding back what they laid there isn't even a disease problem. I would just make sure they are in bits so the birds don't associate them with the whole egg is all. It also make them easier to eat them. Saves money on buying oyster shells.