Hi from Queensland Australia

[ra ra]

Glad to find a good site. I'm learning as I go, having had 4 chickens for 8 months. I know someone who feeds her chickens their old eggshells. This doesn't sound good practice to me, any thoughts on this?

 

[sumi]

Hello and welcome to BYC

Eggshells are about 93% calcium, so it's common practice for people to recycle the shells by crushing them and feeding them back to the hens for a calcium boost. I prefer to bake the shells in an oven for a few minutes to "sterilise" them first. As long as the shells are not recognisable as coming from an egg you won't encourage egg-eating in your flock and it's a nice free source of calcium!

 

[ra ra]

Ok, thanks for that info. I like the idea of sterilizing the unrecognizable shells. Is that better than the crushed grit which I give them now?

 

[sumi]

Grit or oystershell? Grit just helps them digest their food better. Oystershell is a great source of calcium, but egg shells is just as good and it is free

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, rara, and

! Great to have you aboard. I concur with sumi about the eggshells. Best of luck to you and your flock!

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

Niether is better or worse, just a matter of how expensive or convenient it is. I sell most of my eggs, so don't have many shells to recycle.

 

[willowbranchfarm]

Welcome to BYC

 

[chickenpooplady]

from Highland County Ohio!!!

 

[kidcody]

from washington state glad you joined us!

 

[Kevin565]