how to identify calcium

[getreal]

I had my husband pick calcium awhile back at the feed store. He put it in the marked bin so I never saw the bag. I thought it odd it was gray light grit but just shrugged it off. Since then my hens have went into molt, for 2 months now and I'm getting an egg every other day out of 15 hens. It dawned on me today that maybe they aren't getting the calcium they need, because what I thought was calcium is actually grit? Does anyone know if calcium is always white? Or if there's a way to tell if I was given grit instead of calcium?

 

[Brooks_]

With molt, it's more about the protein than the calcium. Could you post a pic of the calcium in question?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

You could also take some and pour vinegar on it. If its calcium it should start to dissolve.

 

[getreal]

The white pieces are the calcium I had before

 

[GC-Raptor]

The white pieces are the calcium I had before

That's the same color as my Granite Grit.

GC

 

[getreal]

That's the same color as my Granite Grit. View attachment 2856346
GC

That’s what I thought I also did the vinegar test and nothing happened. Should have went with my instincts. Thanks everyone. Guess I’m making a trip to Ace (paying twice as much) and buying calcium myself!!

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I bet this is how my husband feels when I go to the hardware store for him

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yup looks like granite grit.

As noted above, calcium has ZERO to do with egg laying, it only improves quality of shell. It will not increase laying nor help the birds with molt. It's normal for molting birds to not lay and they'll naturally not start up again until days begin lengthening again.