How to get your hens to eat oyster shells

[Chicken poppy]

Chickens will eat it only if they need it. Do not mix it in with ANYTHING to trick them into eating it because you might overdo it.

Yes exactly. Chickens are smart (Generally) They know whats best for their body. Forcing them to ingest the calcium could do more harm then good. There are some situations where it’s necessary, but not just because you want them to eat some.

 

[MACCanadianCoop]

Yes, chickens are generally smart. But they can also be stupid too, and lay soft shelled eggs while avoiding the scary oyster shell container.

 

[jlwquilter]

My hens don’t like the oyster shell pebbles. I didn’t know flake oyster shells where even an option - good to know!
There’s other sources of calcium for chickens - like good old grass. My run has zero grass in it but the yard surrounding it has plenty. So I don’t mow a patch and pull handfuls of grass to throw into the run when I’m out there. Chickens love it. When it’s time to mow again I choose a new place to not mow next to the run. It’s pretty simple and effective.

 

[NatJ]

There’s other sources of calcium for chickens - like good old grass.

Grass is not going to provide enough calcium each day for laying hens, because of how very much they need to make an entire eggshell every day. They really do need it included in their feed (layer feed) or provided separately (oyster shell and/or eggshells).

 

[jlwquilter]

My chickens get free choice layer feed all day long. If they’re not eating the OS it doesn’t matter if it’s available. They eat the grass so are actually getting some added calcium. I’m sure it’s good for them in other ways too. All I’m saying is there’s other ways to get added calcium into their diets if needed that will be eaten and therefore actually help. Also I live in SE Florida so have grass available year round, so I’m lucky there.

 

[NatJ]

My chickens get free choice layer feed all day long. If they’re not eating the OS it doesn’t matter if it’s available. They eat the grass so are actually getting some added calcium. I’m sure it’s good for them in other ways too. All I’m saying is there’s other ways to get added calcium into their diets if needed that will be eaten and therefore actually help.

Grass does not have ENOUGH calcium. Yes, it has some. Chick starter has some calcium too. But no matter how much chick starter a hen eats, she still needs a lot more calcium each day. And no matter how much grass a hen eats, she still needs a lot more calcium each day.

There is nothing wrong with chickens eating some grass, but it is not a good source of calcium. The hens need to get most of their calcium from some other source, like oyster shell or eggshells or the layer feed you are using (Layer feed has the right amount of oyster shell or other calcium source already included in the mix.)

 

[aart]

There is nothing wrong with chickens eating some grass,

Unless they gorge down piles of grass clippings, then they can plug up their crops.

 

[Bonnieboo]

I also like to give them a little good quality yoghurt every week. Alone it's certainly not adequate calcium but certainly a boost. Plus, they love it!!

 

[Kanekoded]

Today I came across my first shell-less egg. I make sure to have oyster shell in the run but they seem to never eat it. How do I get them to eat it? Maybe I should tell them no treats until they finish their oyster shell...

My girls wouldn't eat oyster shell either unless I mixed it into mashed potatoes or oatmeal. I don't bother giving it to them anymore. Now, I just pulverize egg shells into little pieces and mix it in with their feed. They pick out what they want if they think they need it. Chickens actually have the ability to adjust their own calcium intake when given a choice.

 

[4sweetgirls]

Today I came across my first shell-less egg. I make sure to have oyster shell in the run but they seem to never eat it. How do I get them to eat it? Maybe I should tell them no treats until they finish their oyster shell...

I mix it right in with their feed in their feeder long tray. I get crushed oyster shell at F&F and they really like it. When mine were in their first year I came across a few shell-less eggs but none this year at all yet. They all are taking turns molting right now, so curious if I will see some. In the winter I give them some dried oatmeal in with their feed also.