Feeding Hens Egg Shells for Calcium

[courtsmarans]

I remember reading this somewhere that you shouldn't feed your chickens their own ground-up eggshells because the will start eating their own eggs. I feed mine oyster shells, just trying to clear something up.

 

[DobieLover]

I remember reading this somewhere that you shouldn't feed your chickens their own ground-up eggshells because the will start eating their own eggs. I feed mine oyster shells, just trying to clear something up.

Poppycock!
I feed mine both.
The egg shells don't last long enough and pass too quickly through the system to be a good source of calcium on their own. But there isn't a darn thing wrong with feeding them crushed egg shells.

 

[boskelli1571]

Agreed! I do crush up the shells though. I also bake them in the oven to kill off any salmonella that may be lurking.

 

[DobieLover]

Agreed! I do crush up the shells though. I also bake them in the oven to kill off any salmonella that may be lurking.

I zap mine in the microwave for a 1 1/2 minutes after rinsing them out.

 

[Rammy]

I crush mine up as much as possible and guve them the pieces.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Poppycock!
I feed mine both.
The egg shells don't last long enough and pass too quickly through the system to be a good source of calcium on their own. But there isn't a darn thing wrong with feeding them crushed egg shells.

I totally agree! Poppycock!!

I have been giving mine egg shells and oyster shell for many years. No egg eaters except for one giant cochin who needed more protein in her diet. Added protein and she stopped.

Oh and over the decades that would be about 150 birds total in flicks averaging 30 birds.