how do i get calcium to egg layers w/o harming young ones & roosters?

[bj taylor]

i've got four girls just now starting to lay eggs. i have five that are about two months younger & two, maybe three or those five are roosters. i'm guessing i need to put oyster shell out for the egg layers but if the others use it, what happens to them?

 

[MichaelN]

There is a lot of goodness in Oyster shell, so every bird will benefit, there will be no harm. Put the oyster shell separately to their feed, but near it, and they will eat it as and when they require it. The hens seem to know when they need an extra boost. The rooster may not even look at it, but if he does eat it, no worries. It is good for their bones, their general health as well as the eggs.
Mike

 

[Imp]

i've got four girls just now starting to lay eggs. i have five that are about two months younger & two, maybe three or those five are roosters. i'm guessing i need to put oyster shell out for the egg layers but if the others use it, what happens to them?

Exactly how old are they? and what are you feeding them?

Imp

 

[donrae]

My rooster never eats the oyster shell, but he knows the girls like it so he gets all excited when I throw it out, does the thing where he picks it up and sets it back down for the hen to eat. My younger pullets--almost 4 months now--try a little now and then and then look at the big girls kinda puzzled---what's so great about this?

 

[bj taylor]

Exactly how old are they? and what are you feeding them?

Imp

the older ones are five months and the five younger ones are 3 months. i feed them flock raiser and they get some free range time every day. i give them some scratch occasionally.

 

[Imp]

Quote:

i've got four girls just now starting to lay eggs. i have five that are about two months younger & two, maybe three or those five are roosters. i'm guessing i need to put oyster shell out for the egg layers but if the others use it, what happens to them?

So, to answer your question.
With little chicks the extra calcium from either layer feed or supplements like oyster shell, can be potentially hard on their little kidneys.
At about 13 weeks your chicks are no longer so little, and neither are their kidneys.
I don't think I'd be too worried about it, unless I saw the younger ones regularly eating the shell. If I did I think I'd remove the shell till the younger ones were 18 weeks old.

Imp