Eggshells

[chickenlittle25]

If you feed a chicken eggshells will it make them want to eat there own eggs ?

 

[chick-a-dee1984]

I feed my hens the eggs shells. I rinse them, remove the membrane, and let them air dry. I've not had a problem.

 

[JadedPhoenix]

Some say yes, some say no. I feed mine to them but only after I've microwaved them for a minute (I get a big bowl piled up first) to cook the left over liquid inside and crumble them up as finely as I can.

 

[chickenlittle25]

I have four three week old Ameraucanas and eight Golden Comets and two of the Ameraucanas are mean to the other ones does this mean anything ?

 

[JadedPhoenix]

I have four three week old Ameraucanas and eight Golden Comets and two of the Ameraucanas are mean to the other ones does this mean anything ?

All chickens have a natural pecking order. Looks like your two Ameraucanas are your top hens.

 

[chickenlittle25]

I can't tell if they are female or males are there any characteristics between the two ?

 

[NanooseDeb]

I dry the eggshells in the drawer under the oven and put them in the oven after it has been turned off. I do this for a few weeks then put them in my food processor and grind them up. What I was wondering about feeding them the eggshells is how much of the calcium do they actually absorb? They love getting them sprinkled in their yard. I also have a pet chicken who recently broke her leg and is currently living in the house. We noticed that her poops had quite a bit of ground eggshell in them, therefore the question on absorption. Thanks.

 

[Sidhe13]

I would like to know this too!

 

[AthenaT]

I save all egg shells, when I have a full quart container (partially crushed) I pop the bin in the microwave for 2 minutes, let cool and crush down to about 1/8 inch pieces with the back of a glass. I then sprinkle this in the "snacks" I feed my chickens.

 

[RJSorensen]

To the OP, no feeding back the eggshells dose not contribute to them eating their or others hens eggs. We, like many of you, rinse them out, dry them and smash them down. When we get a quart of them we sprinkle them in the garden, where we will plant our tomatoes in a month or two. The birds have access to this when the garden is fallow, so some goes into the ground and some into the chickens.

On the question of calcium in the egg shell, I believe that the calcium in their complete feed ration and that from oyster shell trump egg shells in value to the bird. But we have the shells as a by product, and just as well use them. If you were to be using a feed that did not contain calcium, and also did not offer oyster shells, I don't think the eggs by themselves would be enough to keep you egg structure strong enough for you. By this I am referring to thin shells and even partial or no shell offerings from your hens. Grinding up the shell into a fine powder, the bird is not able to regulate the calcium intake, and can get too much. So I prefer and recommend that they be just crushed and sprinkled on the ground for those whom are so inclined to ingest a little recycled egg shell.

Everyone has their own way and I am always good with that, I just from time to time share my thoughts, and a little on how I came to use them in my flock. Best to you all and your birds,

RJ