Grit and oyster shell

[Isabella_animale]

Do you need to provide grit and oyster shell? Or does oyster shell also work as a grit?

 

[DobieLover]

Do you need to provide grit and oyster shell? Or does oyster shell also work as a grit?

You need to provide both.
Grit is to aid digestion and resides in the gizzard.
Oyster shell is supplemental calcium for active layers to help produce the eggshell.

 

[Isabella_animale]

You need to provide both.
Grit is to aid digestion and resides in the gizzard.
Oyster shell is supplemental calcium for active layers to help produce the eggshell.

Ok, thank you! I'm still learning more and more lol. Do you still need to provide oyster shell if you are feeding layer feed?

 

[DobieLover]

Ok, thank you! I'm still learning more and more lol. Do you still need to provide oyster shell if you are feeding layer feed?

It's a good safety measure to offer the extra calcium. I personally have never fed layer feed. I do not like feeding a complete mix that has the minimum amount of protein. I prefer something more in the 18 to 20% protein range like Flock Raiser, All Flock or a starter feed offers.
There will be so many instances during the year when your chickens do not need that extra calcium in the layer feed. But the body will still have to process that extra calcium and it causes strain on the kidneys.

 

[drinkoj]

Ok, thank you! I'm still learning more and more lol. Do you still need to provide oyster shell if you are feeding layer feed?

How old are you chickens?? Just asking to make sure you're not feeding them layers too early in their life cycle.

 

[Isabella_animale]

How old are you chickens?? Just asking to make sure you're not feeding them layers too early in their life cycle.

They are 6 months old and some have already started laying

 

[black_cat]

When they are laying hens, they should either be getting layer feed with oyster shell available, or grower or all flock with oyster shell available. Grit and shell are seperate things, so you need to offer them both.

 

[black_cat]

They are 6 months old and some have already started laying

You can keep them on grower and offer free choice oyster shell. The ones that don't need it won't eat it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Do you still need to provide oyster shell if you are feeding layer feed?

This depends on other things. If Layer is all they eat, they should get enough calcium for egg shells from that. That's why the calcium in Layer is around 4%, that's the right amount. But if they eat things other than pure Layer feed, say they forage or you provide treats, that can change. It's not how much calcium is in one bite, it's how many grams of calcium do they consume in a day, and even that is more of an average over a few days.

If they are eating a fair amount of low-calcium stuff in addition to Layer, they may not be getting enough calcium for their eggs. On the other hand they can get some calcium from certain plants or from creepy crawlies they eat. Or of your native soil is limestone, they may get enough calcium from eating some of those for grit. In general if things other than chicken feed makes up less than 10% of their diet, they should get enough of all the essential nutrients they need from that feed, including calcium for their egg shells if that feed is Layer.

That's why I say it depends. They may or may not need extra calcium if you feed Layer. Your egg shells will tell you how you are doing. If the shells are hard and thick they are getting enough. If they are thin and weak they need more calcium. I think it's good insurance to offer oyster shell on the side, not mixed in with their feed. If they need the extra calcium they should eat it. If they don't need it that bag of ouster shell should last forever, it will never go bad.