Egg shells

[JaJoJu]

I just peeled boiled eggs. Can I give the shells to my five week old chicks? If so, do I crush them fine or what???

Thanks,

Diane

 

[hippiechick53]

I was told to bake them and then crush them up. I mix them with scrambled eggs and yogurt for my girls.

 

[JaJoJu]

Quote:
May I ask why they need to be baked? And for how long? I did read that the shells help the chickens' eggs to have hard shells.

 

[rungirl]

Most of the time when you crush eggshells to feed back to your hens, it's because you're trying to give back the the calcium they need for producing eggs. 5 week old chicks haven't begun to lay yet, so they don't need calcium supplements, In fact, too much calcium isn't good for them. That's why they tell you not to feed layer feed to pullets that haven't started laying. If they are already on a balanced chick grower/starter, I wouldn't do it. I'd wait until they start laying. JMO.

Lisa

 

[ninabeast]

Most of the time when you crush eggshells to feed back to your hens, it's because you're trying to give back the the calcium they need for producing eggs. 5 week old chicks haven't begun to lay yet, so they don't need calcium supplements, In fact, too much calcium isn't good for them. That's why they tell you not to feed layer feed to pullets that haven't started laying. If they are already on a balanced chick grower/starter, I wouldn't do it. I'd wait until they start laying. JMO.

x2!

Everything I've read says extra calcium is bad for chicks, and egg/oyster shells should not be given until they begin to lay. I was even warned of the calcium-enriched parakeet grit.​

 

[mamabigbird]

Quote:
x2!

Everything I've read says extra calcium is bad for chicks, and egg/oyster shells should not be given until they begin to lay. I was even warned of the calcium-enriched parakeet grit.

X3 ... No calcium for chicks.

 

[JaJoJu]

Thank you. I will hold off on eggshells for now!