Ground oyster shells vs. egg shells

[EverV]

How fine is recommended to crush the shells? I have been saving store bought shells for 4 months and it’s time to process them. I have one layer now!

They should be small enough so that they don't look like an egg (so not curved at all), but too fine means it passes through them before they can absorb the calcium. I'd say around 1/4 inch maybe?

 

[Brown Chick]

Thanks I will try them on some this afternoon!

 

[aart]

I do egg shells just for convenience and price reasons

50# of Oyster Shells costs me about $10 and lasts for 2 years.

They should be small enough so that they don't look like an egg

Feeding egg shells will not cause them to eat eggs.
Some people just toss the halves out in the run.

 

[B_Chickle01]

How fine is recommended to crush the shells? I have been saving store bought shells for 4 months and it’s time to process them. I have one layer now!

I just crush mine into the size of little flakes!

 

[EverV]

50# of Oyster Shells costs me about $10 and lasts for 2 years.

Feeding egg shells will not cause them to eat eggs.
Some people just toss the halves out in the run.

Thanks! I've heard a couple horror stories with the egg-eating thing which is why I'm breaking them up into smaller pieces. Hadn't realized the oyster shells were so cheap! I think I'm going to just continue with egg shells, at least for now, as our nearest tsc is a 40 minute drive and we don't have a feed store anywhere around here. I'd forget to order off of amazon

 

[NatJ]

what if my roosters eat the egg or oyster shells? Would it harm them or no?

They will typically not eat enough to hurt themselves, although they will probably nibble a little bit on occasion just to see whether it tastes good.

 

[B_Chickle01]

They will typically not eat enough to hurt themselves, although they will probably nibble a little bit on occasion just to see whether it tastes good.

That’s what made me ask! I caught my one rooster Rooty nibbling on them on a couple different occasions. I always wondered how people with a joined flock are able to feed certain chickens that are on different diet from the rest.

 

[drinkoj]

50# of Oyster Shells costs me about $10 and lasts for 2 years.

Feeding egg shells will not cause them to eat eggs.
Some people just toss the halves out in the run.

We've pretty well come to the conclusion that the egg eater(s) were being opportunistic, as we stopped getting eggs early in the morning and were waiting till 3 to 4 pm to get the all at once (we've got 2 or 3 that like to lay late in the day). Since we started gathering the eggs at 7 to 8 am and then around 1 pm again, we haven't had any problems with egg eaters.

Now poop covered butt feathers is another issue, but that's a little warm water and soap as we haven't seen runny or wormy poop. Not going to go into that, as I don't want to derail the thread.

 

[B_Chickle01]

What brand or kind does anyone who uses oyster shells use? In article I read for top 10 best oyster shells for chickens listed this. I was wondering if this was ok for both my 8-9month old pullets and my older hen! And what is the difference between these oyster shells and the Manna Pro omega egg maker one?

 

[3KillerBs]

What brand or kind does anyone who uses oyster shells use?

The independent local feed store we favor repackages bulk oystershell into more reasonable quantities for backyard birdkeepers. I have 5 pounds of it in a clear plastic bag with the weight and price written on in Sharpie marker.

I figure that since oystershell is, by definition, the shells of oysters it's likely to be pretty much the same regardless of brand.