Hatch is over. Now what to do with the egg shells.

[showmesilkies]

I've been doing this for years and when I mention it to people they always say, "That is a great idea". So, when the hatching is over I remove the egg shells and any unhatched eggs. I put the egg shells into a coffee can or large container that I do not intend on using for food or storage. Sit it outdoors in the sun for a day or two so it drys the shells and any goo left from the chicks. I then crush up the shells and work it into the soil around my rose bushes, cannas, veggies, and other plants. The unhatched eggs I also bury about a foot below the surface. *Note* I usually open and inspect the unhatched eggs but still bury the shell and contents as I do the whole unhatched eggs*
Provides the plants with rich nutrients and makes for a better yield! We have hard clay ground here so it can use anything I can provide to make for better planting and improve the soil.

 

[enurturenature]

Great idea! I've also had success with drying out egg shells and using them for snail and slug control. Crumple up the egg shells around the base of plants the snails like and they stay away!

one more tip - make sure there aren't snails already on the plant when you put shells around it or the snails will be encouraged to stay on the plant and eat it all.

Erin
Petaluma, CA

 

[mickey328]

I rinse and dry mine then crush and feed back to the chickens. Any extra go into the compost pile. We don't have a slug issue otherwise I'd definitely put them around my plants!

 

[erinszoo]

We mix them into the soil around our tomatoes and eggplants and melons to keep them from getting blossom end rot and we throw them in the compost pile to break down into the compost.

 

[amy008]

Wow never knew that! thanks for the post!

 

[Carebearsmiles]

I've been doing this for years and when I mention it to people they always say, "That is a great idea". So, when the hatching is over I remove the egg shells and any unhatched eggs. I put the egg shells into a coffee can or large container that I do not intend on using for food or storage. Sit it outdoors in the sun for a day or two so it drys the shells and any goo left from the chicks. I then crush up the shells and work it into the soil around my rose bushes, cannas, veggies, and other plants. The unhatched eggs I also bury about a foot below the surface. *Note* I usually open and inspect the unhatched eggs but still bury the shell and contents as I do the whole unhatched eggs*
Provides the plants with rich nutrients and makes for a better yield! We have hard clay ground here so it can use anything I can provide to make for better planting and improve the soil.

I do a version of this, but didn't know I could put unhatched eggs in the soil for use. Thanks for the info!

Great idea! I've also had success with drying out egg shells and using them for snail and slug control. Crumple up the egg shells around the base of plants the snails like and they stay away!

one more tip - make sure there aren't snails already on the plant when you put shells around it or the snails will be encouraged to stay on the plant and eat it all.

Erin
Petaluma, CA

I have slugs galore around my neighborhood. The egg shells really do help with the control.