How to feed oyster shells?

[1ChickyMomma]

I was collecting eggs this morning and broke one in my hands picking it up and another one a few days away simply washing it off.... A neighbour down the road was telling me they need more calcium... So i purchased oyster shells...
How exactly do i feed it to them? It just came in a 15lb paper bag

 

[junebuggena]

Put in a bowl, dish, pie pan, or get it's own feeder. It doesn't have to be fancy, just accessable.

 

[1ChickyMomma]

^^^
Do i put a bowl out full for them to eat? Should i mix it with their feed?

 

[1ChickyMomma]

Put in a bowl, dish, pie pan, or get it's own feeder. It doesn't have to be fancy, just accessable. 

How long do i do so? permanently?for just a few weeks?

 

[junebuggena]

You just put in a bowl and set it down in the run. They will eat it if they need it.

 

[junebuggena]

It should always be available all day long for laying hens.

 

[JadedPhoenix]

My dad used to love buying fresh oysters and giving the whole shells to the chickens. It was actually fun to watch them fight over the newest shells and watch as they would chip away at them over time. The whole shells actually give thems something to entertain themselves with. Now, I also keep the crushed shell in a separate bowl for them but nothing beats giving the real deal to them ever so often.

 

[Americano Blue]

I just have a bowl of them in the coop.

 

[pdirt]

They need calcium all the time. Don't mix it with their feed, though. They need the extra calcium because of all those eggshells they create.

I just screwed down an empty margarine tub onto a 2x4 that is part of the frame of the run. I fill it up every few days for our 10 layers.

 

[1ChickyMomma]

I put some out in a bowl and they dont seem interested at all.. what can I do to encourage them to eat it. I just had a chicken with an extremly soft shell ... So im thinking they deft need to be eating it