eggshell?

[rosemarythyme]

i give them layer! it’s just confusing because a lot of people say they still need the extra calcium and such

Layer is formulated to give an average layer enough calcium for good eggshells. Some birds need less, some need more. So I find it a pretty cheap investment to provide oyster shell for those that may need more.

If you feed layer and offer eggshells, and quality of shells is good, then what you're already doing is fine for your birds' needs.

 

[GC-Raptor]

i give them layer! it’s just confusing because a lot of people say they still need the extra calcium and such

Layer feed has enough calcium for most pullets/hens.
But lots of people also give scratch grains or cracked corn, mealworms and kitchen and table scraps.
So they may not eat enough layer feed to get the proper amount.
So having a container of Oyster Shells available is insurance.

GC

 

[kelzey]

Layer feed has enough calcium for most pullets/hens.
But lots of people also give scratch grains or cracked corn, mealworms and kitchen and table scraps.
So they may not eat enough layer feed to get the proper amount.
So having a container of Oyster Shells available is insurance.View attachment 2461837
GC

that makes a lot more sense! my girls do get treats, but it’s mainly just on the weekends and if they do get treats during the weekdays, it’s not very much. my top hen eats too much of everything when i give treats so i have no choice but to not give them very often! she usually has to get shut in the run with her own just so the other two girls have a chance to eat some, or else she gobbles everything up. (hence the name gobble guts) they will be getting plenty table scraps over the next few days though because of christmas dinner so i’ll make sure to provide some extra calcium just incase.

 

[kelzey]

my girls actually blessed me with a three egg day today! i rarely get them, usually 1-2 eggs a day the last two months or so. guess they are in the christmas spirit (eggs are normal sized.. i just have small hands)

 

[West Bend]

i don’t have access to a farm store of any kind (the closest is probably like 4/5 hours away) and i find that oyster shell is just soooo expensive on amazon? i know that it’s necessary, but yeah. i’ve been saving up leftover eggshell from my girls eggs and i’ve been wanting to give it to them (baked and crushed up) but i’m just so worried that they will eat too much of it? especially my top hen, she’s basically a pig in a chicken costume. i’ve given them bits of eggshell just on the ground sometimes but they go sooo crazy for it, is too much calcium possible like this? or does anyone have a link to some affordable oyster shell on amazon or another site? i’m in canada so it needs to be accessible to me. and please don’t yell at me for not giving extra calcium to my girls right away, i’m trying my best. would it be okay for me to just give them a bowl of crushed eggshell until i have the means to order some oyster? they don’t have any issues with laying eggs even if they don’t have the extra calcium- sometimes they lay funny eggs but i’ve only gotten 3 of them out of 3/4 dozen that i’ve gotten from my three girls, and even then i know that funny ones are normal every now and again.

What about regular pet stores or other stores that sell pet supplies (walmart type- not sure what stores are in your area).
Or maybe calcium tablets?.... Someone Definitely more experienced has probably mentioned these or better ideas ( i had only read through page 3 or 4 so far)

 

[West Bend]

What about regular pet stores or other stores that sell pet supplies (walmart type- not sure what stores are in your area).
Or maybe calcium tablets?.... Someone Definitely more experienced has probably mentioned these or better ideas ( i had only read through page 3 or 4 so far) haha....must had been a different thread I was reading....it had 7 pages)

 

[WindingRoad]

i don’t have access to a farm store of any kind (the closest is probably like 4/5 hours away) and i find that oyster shell is just soooo expensive on amazon? i know that it’s necessary, but yeah. i’ve been saving up leftover eggshell from my girls eggs and i’ve been wanting to give it to them (baked and crushed up) but i’m just so worried that they will eat too much of it? especially my top hen, she’s basically a pig in a chicken costume. i’ve given them bits of eggshell just on the ground sometimes but they go sooo crazy for it, is too much calcium possible like this? or does anyone have a link to some affordable oyster shell on amazon or another site? i’m in canada so it needs to be accessible to me. and please don’t yell at me for not giving extra calcium to my girls right away, i’m trying my best. would it be okay for me to just give them a bowl of crushed eggshell until i have the means to order some oyster? they don’t have any issues with laying eggs even if they don’t have the extra calcium- sometimes they lay funny eggs but i’ve only gotten 3 of them out of 3/4 dozen that i’ve gotten from my three girls, and even then i know that funny ones are normal every now and again.

. For Calcium:
Ok this is how I did it. I had a Kraft cheese plastic dish. I screwed it into a the boards I have under my heated dog bowl. That way they can't knock it over. I top it off every day. They don't seems to like to eat the fine stuff. Every once in awhile I will scoop out all that dust and start new. I feed 18% all year long. Scratch all year long and intergrate mealworms into the ration. About 1/2 pellets, 1/4 scratch, and then the mealworms. Plenty of protein.

Now eggshells I used to use all the time but now I sell most of my eggs. I might have 2 eggs maybe twice/three times a week. And what limited baking. I am retired and live alone. But I do crush mine up and put them on a cookie sheet. I bake them at 350 for maybe 3 minutes. But the timer on and adjust time as needed. They WIIL burn quickly. Then I put them in a grinder ( nuts/onion grinder) make a very fine grind and put it over their feed. good luck.

 

[hayley3]

okay thank you! im going to get some oyster shells, it just had to be after christmas when i have the money. i’ll put out the eggshell tomorrow though- all three of my girls lay and i have two young cockerels but they are separate, so i don’t have to worry about that. eggshells are really my only option right now, so that’s what i have to use for the time being. i’m sure that it’s better than nothing at all though?

I have never used oyster shells..only egg shells. And you can see how long I've owned chickens.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

i give them layer! it’s just confusing because a lot of people say they still need the extra calcium and such

Setting out oyster shell, in addition to the use of layer feed, is a bit of extra "insurance", as the calcium needs of chicks will differ between layers and breeds. Think of it this way - a large breed chicken that only lays a medium egg 3 times a week probably eats a lot of food (and gets a lot of calcium from that food), but doesn't need a lot of it for egg production. On the other hand, a smaller "breed" that pops out a large or extra large egg most days (like the golden comet hybrid) need a lot of calcium each day - and though they will eat a lot of food, relative to their body weight, they may want a bit more to maintain peak production and their own bone density. Thus oyster shell = insurance.

and of course high calcium amounts can be harmful, long term, to non-layers, like your cockerels. and the more they eat, the more that excess calcium can try to build up, so larger, faster growing breed (like any of the "meaties") tend to be more susceptible to it. Its part of why many of us use All Flock plus oyster shell, free choice, for our mixed flocks.

I can't tell you what's best for your situation, that's something you have to decide for yourself, in view of your end goals, your time commitment, your local resources, space, and budget - but you are asking questions and educating yourself to make the best decision you can. That's never a bad thing.

Happy holidays, and fortune favor your chicken endeavors.

 

[kelzey]

I have never used oyster shells..only egg shells. And you can see how long I've owned chickens.

that honestly makes me feel a lot better!