How to crush oyster shells

[jak2002003]

Why is she not eating chicken food?!

You can also feed them left over food from your kitchen, including meat, vegetables, rice, etc.

If you let them free range she will find lots of insects to eat also.

 

[Huevos-Azules]

[VIDEO]

 

[Phoenix Pecky]

One thing I just learn and might be your problem is the type of greens you are giving her OXALIC ACIDS which are found in some leafy greens and other veggies and foods prevent your chicken as well as any other living creature that consumes them in large ammounts from absorbing CALCIUM .

 

[centrarchid]

Why not disperse shells on ground so as they dissolve and plants absorb minerals, birds can consume resulting calcium rich greens. If anti-nutritional factors still a problem then manage for plants that are low in anti-nutritional factors.

 

[Rizu]

Kha

she s nt eating anything excepts greens.. she eats em lot.. she definately needs calcium....

Khanay may mila kay doa.

 

[Jasonmo]

Take a 5 gallon bucket put oyster shells in it and crush them with a mallet until you have a 1/2 gallon of shell parts in the bottom. Drill a 1/2 inch hole just below where the lid snaps on on the side of bucket to allow off gassing. Fill with 4 gallons of white vinegar. Leave outside. For two weeks. Pour the bucket into a plastic storage bin and allow to dehydrate. Any remaining shell will crush easy and the dissolved calcium will be a talc like consistency.

 

[B-Goock]

We get precrushed oyster shell here in the USA. It was too big for my quail so I just use a regular electric blender. Cheapest one at Walmart. A cup full at a time and it's powder.

You mentioned only eating greens. Maybe look into what species of plants grow in your area that have more calcium in them or make a planter loaded with calcium in the soil. May help.

Some people will give a calcium pill. (Like an antacid) I've never had to do it but I've read it several times on here.

 

[swampfox440]

You can also use rocks if you don't have a mortar ag pestle, if you can find one with a natural dish shape and one to smash and grind with . Granite works the best

 

[Lyn E Southwell]

Hi,my hen has been laying thin shelled for sometime now..since there are not much vet available,i was really confused.. but one of my friend suggested to add their own shells for the extra calcium.. But she later lost interest in the egg shells.. I live in a remote place in INDIA... there is no feed stores here... But i have access to oyster shells by the sea shore... can i grind them n feed to my hen.. am worried for the sharp edges to harm her please reply friends for possible solution...

Yes put oyster shells in the sun dry them for a few weeks hit with a big hammer to crush and the chooks will love you. Even better if it has a range of shellfish. I gave mine the barnacles, periwinkles and oyster shell chips. I was an oyster farmer so could get this mineral booster free... had a 300m oyster shell driveway too.