Feeding oyster shells

[Chickengirl209]

How should I give my chickens a "free choice" of oyster shell?
Do mix it in with their feed, or put it in a container on the ground, or fix a container onto the wall?
Also, they don't seem to want to eat it. Only a couple of them peck at it.
Any ideas?

 

[NatJ]

How should I give my chickens a "free choice" of oyster shell?
Do mix it in with their feed, or put it in a container on the ground, or fix a container onto the wall?
Also, they don't seem to want to eat it. Only a couple of them peck at it.
Any ideas?

Not mixed into their other feed. The whole point of "free choice" is that they can choose whether to eat it or not, which works best when it is in a separate container.

A container on the ground is fine, or a container on the wall is fine.

Most chickens are good at eating the right amount.
What age and gender are your chickens?
What other food are they eating?
If they are not eating much of it, they might not need very much right now.

 

[PolishAllTheWay]

How should I give my chickens a "free choice" of oyster shell?
Do mix it in with their feed, or put it in a container on the ground, or fix a container onto the wall?
Also, they don't seem to want to eat it. Only a couple of them peck at it.
Any ideas?

If they need it they will eat it. As long as it’s in an easily accessible place for them then they will eat it willingly.

 

[5 Points Wingfeather]

I put a small container of oyster shells in the coop for my 7 hens and they don’t touch it. They also don’t seem to touch the grit. I put both out MONTHS ago and I can’t tell that either have been eaten at all.

 

[PolishAllTheWay]

I put a small container of oyster shells in the coop for my 7 hens and they don’t touch it. They also don’t seem to touch the grit. I put both out MONTHS ago and I can’t tell that either have been eaten at all.

They must be getting the rocks or grits from another source

 

[rosemarythyme]

I put a small container of oyster shells in the coop for my 7 hens and they don’t touch it. They also don’t seem to touch the grit. I put both out MONTHS ago and I can’t tell that either have been eaten at all.

A couple things to try. Sprinkle some of the grit and oyster shell on the ground - some birds prefer it that way. You can also try crushing some clean eggshells and sprinkling that into the oyster shell, as some birds prefer eggshell over oyster, and that might encourage them to start picking through the container more.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

A couple things to try. Sprinkle some of the grit and oyster shell on the ground - some birds prefer it that way. You can also try crushing some clean eggshells and sprinkling that into the oyster shell, as some birds prefer eggshell over oyster, and that might encourage them to start picking through the container more.

and be aware that egg shell is more rapidly digestible than oyster shell - not because its all that chemically different (it isn't), simply that it has a lot of surface area relative to volume, so it can be rapidly crushed to powder and digested.

I routinely throw spent egg shell to my birds, then watch to see who, day after day, seeks it out - those are the ones I watch for potential calcium deficiencies. (Usually my ducks).

As others above have said, grit and oyster shell or another calcium source should be available as free feed - always available in seperate dishes. Maybe your birds get (the grit particularly) them from other sources, depending upon your grounds - but a little insurance against shortage is cheap. Even with all my birds, I've only gone thru about 100# of oyster shell in 26 months. Your rate will of course vary, based on the individual calcium needs of your birds, the size of your flock, and the calcium content of the feed. If you use a "layer" mix, your birds will seek less supplimental calcium (if at all) than if you use the Flock Raiser/All Flock that many of us recommend for most posters.

The important thing is that you be aware of the need, monitor your flock's behaviors, and adjust to meet their needs.

 

[Chickengirl209]

Not mixed into their other feed. The whole point of "free choice" is that they can choose whether to eat it or not, which works best when it is in a separate container.

A container on the ground is fine, or a container on the wall is fine.

Most chickens are good at eating the right amount.
What age and gender are your chickens?
What other food are they eating?
If they are not eating much of it, they might not need very much right now.

They are 20wk old hens and started laying a week ago. I bought to much chick feed, so they have been eating medicated chick feed. So far their egg shells have not been soft. I had tried giving it mixed in, but they scratched in out.

 

[Chickengirl209]

A couple things to try. Sprinkle some of the grit and oyster shell on the ground - some birds prefer it that way. You can also try crushing some clean eggshells and sprinkling that into the oyster shell, as some birds prefer eggshell over oyster, and that might encourage them to start picking through the container more.

Do you have problems with the hens eating their eggs after you feed them eggshell?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Do you have problems with the hens eating their eggs after you feed them eggshell?

I do not.