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Feeding egg shells

Discussion in 'Feeding & Watering Your Flock' started by Delmar, Feb 1, 2011.

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  1. Feb 1, 2011 #1
    Delmar

    Delmar Chillin' With My Peeps

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    I saw a guy mention the other day that he feeds his layers egg shell. This makes so much sense to me as a way of getting the calcium the birds need to make shells back into the birds. It did, however, make me wonder what precautions need to be taken. I assume they would either need to be rinsed really well, to get the egg white off, or microwaved long enough to cook any egg residue. What else? Run them through a coffee grinder so they are not recognizable as egg shells? I would hate to remind the chickens that eggs are yummy!
     
  3. Feb 1, 2011 #2
    92caddy

    92caddy Egg Lover

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    I just throw my egg shells in the scrap bucket, I dont rinse them or cook them and then trow it all into the coop. There are some on here that will say you have to do both. I feel as thou its each to their own.
     
  5. Feb 1, 2011 #3
    TigerLilly

    TigerLilly I failed Chicken Math

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    Quote:I'm with him ^
    Mine just get dried & crushed before feeding.
     
  7. Feb 1, 2011 #4
    algopurple

    algopurple Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Ripley TN
    I am sure I will be told that this is wrong and I shouldn't do it but I always just throw the shells in the chicken run minutes after the eggs are cracked for cooking. The chickens have never gotten sick and in 6 years, have never figured out what it is they are eating. Even when an egg gets broken in the nest box, they only eat that one egg and don't bother the others. At least that's how it seems since production is never down.
     
  9. Feb 1, 2011 #5
    Jx2inNC

    Jx2inNC Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Quote:Same here. Cracked egg in the pen gets splattered on the ground for them to fight over. But they still don't crack open good eggs even though they see me do it.
     
  11. Feb 1, 2011 #6
    knjinnm

    knjinnm Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Sandia Park, NM
    Quote:X2
     
  13. Feb 1, 2011 #7
    Mervin

    Mervin Chillin' With My Peeps

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    I dry them out and crush them up although I'm not sure you really have to. Like everybody else, I've seen mine cleaning up broken eggs but they haven't actually started doing it intentionally.
     
  15. Feb 1, 2011 #8
    Delmar

    Delmar Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Nov 26, 2010
    Indiana, a dozen miles from MI
    Do they pretty much clean the egg shells up completely, when you just throw them in the run?
     
  17. Feb 1, 2011 #9
    lichick28

    lichick28 Chillin' With My Peeps

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    I Microwave The Egg Shells & Crush Them Up In A Paper Towel. I Clean Up A Broken Egg As Soon As Possible. Seems If I Leave A Broken Raw Egg In The Pen I Find More Broken Eggs The Next Day.
     
  19. Feb 1, 2011 #10
    knjinnm

    knjinnm Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Sandia Park, NM
    Quote:Crush the shells and mix them in their feed.
     
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