How often to feed crushed oyster or egg shells?

[Robin'sBrood]

I've been giving my girls baked & crushed egg shells every few days. Is that enough or should they get some every day?

 

[Katy]

I keep a bowl of it out for them free choice.

 

[Firefly]

I also offer it free choice-- I think it's a good idea to let them regulate their own intake!

Kelli

 

[antlers]

I agree. Free choice. I have a small wooden box I mad tha thangs on a hook on the inside of the coop.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

I give oyster shell free choice as well.

 

[mjdtexan]

I was discussing that issue with the feedstore lady today. Keep in mind I dont have chicks (on order from Ideal though) yet so I dont know. She said she does not feed them eggshells because she thinks it causes the chickens to want to eat their own eggs. I dunno. She did recommend oyster shells though.

I am pretty much learning from you guys.

 

[Chicabee19]

Egg shells baked and crushed up are probably not that recognizable to a chicken. I have never heard of any that leaned toward eating their own eggs from having shells provided to them.

I've heard this advice lots of times on BYC: "don't listen to everything feed store employees tell you".

 

[NC chicken man]

free choice most people bake their egg shells then crush them up and it ain't like they are eating the egg shell whole ,i've done both on problem.

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Quote:
Especially when they'd rather SELL someone oyster shells than tell them that FREE baked eggs are perfectly fine.

 

[danamillette]

I also offer free-choice. And it drives me nuts that I have to pay for a bag of these things when we lived in FL(pan handle) and had the darn things laying everywhere for free!!