how do you feed egg shells to chickens?

[backdoorchicken]

do you just throw the egg shells in the run and let them pick at them or do you need to break them up?

 

[scbatz33]

I grind em up to bite sized pieces and mix in feed. I suposed you don't have to, they will just pick at them. I think if they don't look like egg shells then the hens won't take to eating eggs before I get them collected. Could be wrong - God knows I can't seem to be right today - but that's my theory.

 

[backdoorchicken]

Quote:
that's a good theory. i will break them in tiny pieces.

 

[fuzidragonbunnie]

We cook the shells first (i put them in water and let it come to a boil so it tastes more like cooked eggs, then after letting them dry, crush them and feed with whatever is with their next meal.

 

[Elite Silkies]

I bake them and then grind them up. Or I blend up the egg with the shells and scramble them and they love it.

Mine will not eat oyster shell, so I have to give them egg shell.

 

[1birdlady]

When I was doing wildlife rehab (backyard wild birds mostly), our wildlife vet told us that egg shells are not as readily absorbed for calcium raw. They need to be baked or boiled for the calcium to be released.

Just a tidbit, FYI...

 

[ScoobyRoo]

I have a tin-foil disposable pan that I use over and over. I bake the shells (burned them once,

) then I put the them in an empty ceral box to crush. I was using potato chip bags but the shells poked through and OUCH! Then I put them in with the oyster shells.

 

[BJ_BOBBI_JO]

I just kind of let them dry a little bit and then put them in a plastic bag and crush them up to thrown in with the feed to give the chickens.

 

[Fuffy]

Hello

I have heard that you are meant to bake them until they are brown and crunchy.
So my plan is to put them in the oven next time I do a baked potato (On the other shelf) and then crunch them up.
Like the idea of using an aluminium tray - Thanks for that

I also give the eggshells to my wild birds: I make fat balls for them and add egg shells, sultanas, peanut butter and oatmeal as well as sunflower seeds and whatever birdseed is on special offer

 

[Kansaseq]

I rinse, dry, cook in microwave for a bit, crush, and feed.