I Hit the Eggshell Mother Lode

[joebryant]

I just now called the local McDonald's restaurant and asked for the manager. I explained to him that I had six chickens and how some were beginning to lay eggs. I asked him if he would ask the grille people to save me their eggshells. I told him that I would pick them up anytime he wanted me to. I'm going in today after 11 A.M. when breakfast ends. I'll probably get a year's supply in just a few days.

 

[jjthink]

That was innovative. And great recycling!
JJ

 

[The Chicken Lady]

I worked at a McDonald's during high school. I was "the" breakfast person on weekends and during the summer...got there at 4:30 am, fired up the grill, etc. It was a neat job (though kind of greasy...). I can recall how many eggs we would use up on the average morning: many, many dozen!! You'll get piles of eggshells that otherwise would have gone straight into the trash.

Great recycling effort!

 

[supermom1]

What are you going to use the egg shells for?

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
I have three hens that are just beginning to lay, so I'm getting the eggshells from McDonalds to feed to them. Doing that, I won't have to go out and buy ground up oyster shells for them.

 

[noriko]

That's really a good idea! I like it. I hope they will save egg shells for you! I'm giving my girls ground up oyster shells & ground up eggs shells. Their eggs are hard as rock!

 

[Wifezilla]

Awesome idea. I know someone that owns a diner. I can ask her to save eggs for one day for me here and there

 

[joebryant]

It turned out better than I had expected. I won't need anymore eggshells for at least a year. McD's gave me a bag full. Then Anne and I went to a new, large pancake restaurant ; it was packed. I talked to the owner, and he went back into the kitchen and brought out a humongous bag full.
I just now washed them all in the downstairs laundry room sink filled with hot water and a half cup of bleach (I thought it best to be careful since I have no idea of who/how they were handled) and rinsed them in a refilled sink of hot water. I brought them upstairs in the big black bag, took them out by the handfuls, smashing them with my fingers, and put them in a BIG pot that Anne has. They filled that pot to the brim.
I want to bake them in the oven for 15 minutes or more at 350*, but I have to wait for Anne to get out of the shower because I don't how to turn the oven on.

Once they're done, I'l put them in a paper bag and smash them with a rolling pin until they're small pieces.

 

[the1much]

i wonder if it would be bad to use the eggshells after the chicks have hatched,, anyone ever hear anything bout that?

great find joe!!!

 

[MissPrissy]

Quote:
You can bake those shells and feed them back, Jim.

Also - dud eggs - I feed to my pigs. They don't care. It's protein.