egg shells

[aran]

hmmm where should i buy the oyster shell from then guys? i dont want to be getting screwed on price.

 

[WindyOaksYokes]

Do you have a local small town feed store or Southern States anywhere near you... I would try them... Southern states, I bought a 50lb bag for 8.99. Hope this helps.

Tes

 

[Tinkerchick]

How old should they be before you let them eat any type of shell? My chicks are about 3 months old.
Tink

 

[WindyOaksYokes]

I was giving mine egg shells since they were about 7 - 8 weeks old... after they started laying is when I gave them oyster shells.
Tes

 

[cknmom]

I was feeding my chickens their shells and they were loving it. But we started finding pecked shells, some so bad that we had to scoop them out of the nesting box with a trowel. My husband was adamant that it was because I was feeding them the shells. I didn't think so. After a few months of this and trying to catch which one was pecking them, I stopped giving them the shells. Ever since I haven't gotten any pecked shells. I don't know if it is a coincidence or not. So I will no longer give them to them.

Monica

 

[WindyOaksYokes]

cknmom - that is wierd... I have had no troubles with pecking the shells so far... did you crush them up really good? I dont know though if the golfballs had anything to do with it... from what I have read on here... putting golfballs in the nest teaches them not only where to lay... but is also a deterant to pecking since the golfball bounces back... Who knows...

Tes

 

[cknmom]

Yes, I did crush them fine at first. Then I read that it was better if they were just broken up into pieces, so I started doing that and also crushing them. I haven't ever heard of the golf ball.
Monica

 

[WindyOaksYokes]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=11991&p=2

Here is the post that I was talking about with the information regarding golf balls.

Tes

 

[nccountrygirl]

If you are feeding the hens Purina Layena which is suppose to have calcium in it do you still need to feed them oyster shell?

 

[Tinkerchick]

So there wasn't a clear answer to the golf ball question on that thread. How eairly should you put golf balls in the nests? My chicks are only 3 months old.
Tink