free fix for shell less eggs

[Frantastic Mei]

I used to receive many shell less eggs, watch what I did

SHELL LESS EGGS? | FEED SHELLS BACK TO CHICKEN | BACKYARD CHICKEN

 

[JaeG]

Oyster shell grit is the most important factor in egg shell quality and strength because the shell sits in the hens gizzard and slowly dissolves during the night when they aren't actively eating and when the majority of the shell is actually produced inside the hen. Egg shells recycled back to chickens is only a quick release source of calcium, as is limestone which is often added to feed. These quick release calcium supplements do not provide calcium during the night while the hen isn't actively eating which is actually when she needs it the most.

These are the results of a study undertaken for the poultry industry to find the best source of calcium for laying hens:

"Results have been presented which show that when pulverized limestone is used as the only calcium supplement in a complete laying mash for hens, maximum production and egg shell quality are attained when the diet contains 3.5% calcium. The calcium intake of 2.8 g. of calcium per hen per day was inadequate and caused an increase in feed consumption and a significant decrease in egg shell quality. The calcium level of 5% was excessive and caused a decrease in feed consumption, decreased egg production, and yet did not improve egg shell quality above that obtained with 3.5% calcium. Further results showed that the substitution of hen-sized oyster shell for two thirds of the pulverized limestone usually present in complete laying rations resulted in an improvement in average egg shell strength which appeared to be due to a constant metering of calcium from the gizzard into the blood stream of the hens."

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579119538500

 

[Frantastic Mei]

Oyster shell grit is the most important factor in egg shell quality and strength because the shell sits in the hens gizzard and slowly dissolves during the night when they aren't actively eating and when the majority of the shell is actually produced inside the hen. Egg shells recycled back to chickens is only a quick release source of calcium, as is limestone which is often added to feed. These quick release calcium supplements do not provide calcium during the night while the hen isn't actively eating which is actually when she needs it the most.

These are the results of a study undertaken for the poultry industry to find the best source of calcium for laying hens:

"Results have been presented which show that when pulverized limestone is used as the only calcium supplement in a complete laying mash for hens, maximum production and egg shell quality are attained when the diet contains 3.5% calcium. The calcium intake of 2.8 g. of calcium per hen per day was inadequate and caused an increase in feed consumption and a significant decrease in egg shell quality. The calcium level of 5% was excessive and caused a decrease in feed consumption, decreased egg production, and yet did not improve egg shell quality above that obtained with 3.5% calcium. Further results showed that the substitution of hen-sized oyster shell for two thirds of the pulverized limestone usually present in complete laying rations resulted in an improvement in average egg shell strength which appeared to be due to a constant metering of calcium from the gizzard into the blood stream of the hens."

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579119538500

Great information, thank you ! Do you usually buy the Oyster shell grit from the store, or are there other ways to get them ? I guess I could also save the oyster shells and crush them myself but that would be a lot more work.

 

[EggWalrus]

Great information, thank you ! Do you usually buy the Oyster shell grit from the store, or are there other ways to get them ? I guess I could also save the oyster shells and crush them myself but that would be a lot more work.

Most "oyster shell" for chickens isn't oyster shell at all. It's usually just soft limestone. There may be a few companies that still pulverize real OS, then pelletize it but that's pretty costly. Real OS is hard, really hard and razor sharp. Chicken OS can usually be crumbled between your fingers.
Good luck crumbling any real oyster shell.

 

[Buckeye Amy]

Sooo, wait. If your hens are laying shell-less eggs how do you save up their egg shells?



This is very "spammy".

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

Sooo, wait. If your hens are laying shell-less eggs how do you save up their egg shells?



This is very "spammy".

Spam is more a protein supplement than a calcium supplement.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

I just paid $17 for 50 lbs if oyster shell. I’m in the northeast where farm stuff tends to cost more than many places.

 

[Buckeye Amy]

Spam is more a protein supplement than a calcium supplement.

Yes, of course! Silly me!

 

[JaeG]

Great information, thank you ! Do you usually buy the Oyster shell grit from the store, or are there other ways to get them ? I guess I could also save the oyster shells and crush them myself but that would be a lot more work.

I'm in a different country but oyster shell grit is readily available here at farm supply stores and pet stores. You can get finer stuff that I give to my quail and aviary birds, and chunkier stuff for the chickens. It must be tumbled to take the sharp edges off it because the pieces are nicely rounded. It would be pretty hard to crush them yourself. I have heard of people crushing up cuttle fish bone for quail so you could try that for chickens, keeping it chunky so that they have a larger piece that sits in their gizzard.