Is it time for Supplemental Calcium yet?

[Feathered babie]

Hi all! I have 8 week old chicks and 3 week old chicks. All 11 are layers to be I’d like to know when I can start them on supplemental Calcium and what you guys use for calcium. I try to stay on the natural side for their diet so whole foods, herbs etc. They do have the typical supplements and vitamins. I’ve heard egg shells is a good source of calcium- What else? And how often should I give it to them. I offer them things like cilantro, rosemary, oregano, pepper, chili, oatmeal, rice, meal worms, grits and other things in a medley for immune support and digestive health, parasites etc- how often should I feed them that? ( this is in addition to their regular feed). I believe in early supplementation for healthy growth and safe egg laying so I appreciate anything that has worked for you in keeping your pullets healthy and strong.

 

[AinaWGSD]

At 8 weeks old they still don't need supplemental calcium, but it wouldn't hurt to offer it. Just know they probably won't touch it until closer to lay. Oyster shell is the most common source of calcium (egg shells are fine, but if their own eggshells are the only source of calcium they'll become deficient over time). Just offer it free choice and they'll take what they need.

 

[kattabelly]

Not necessary until they get closer to laying age. For production birds I'd make supplemental calcium available free-choicenfrom 15 or 16 weeks old. More like 18 weeks for 'heritage' breeds I didn't expect to start laying until 20+ weeks old.

Oyster shell is what most people use. It should be available free choice, all the time, while they're laying. If you're planning to switch them to a layer feed then it might not be necessary as that will already contain a higher amount of calcium; individual birds do have different needs though, so it's (imo) still a good idea to give them the option to top up if they feel they need it.

 

[Briarhopper Ranch]

Hi @Feathered babie ,

I found that my ladies prefer the flaked oyster shell over the rock form. I offer flaked oyster free-choice in the run. Laying hens eat it right up, non-layers (including molting hens plus cockerels + my tom turkey) simply ignore it. A good sign for me that a pullet is preparing to come into lay (along with all of the other classic signs) is that she starts pecking at the oyster shell. Her body knows what it needs.

Sounds like this is your first flock. Keep the oyster shell flakes fresh and don't put them out until your oldest birds are ~18 weeks old. (As you know, the age when a pullet lays varies greatly based on breed, season, etc.) Keep an eye on the other signs of a pullet ready to lay (documented in-depth on this site) like the fleshy red comb, investigating nest boxes, "love squatting", etc. and have those flakes ready to deploy!

Best wishes to you and your flock.

 

[nuthatched]

offer them things like cilantro, rosemary, oregano, pepper, chili, oatmeal, rice, meal worms, grits and other things in a medley for immune support and digestive health, parasites etc- how often should I feed them that?

Once a week, if at all. Most of those thing are either neutral or bad for them.
Oatmeal, rice, grits are nutritionally low, especially rice and grits. Meal worms are high in fat and the herbs and spices are not going to give any benefits and can be bad for them.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I’d like to know when I can start them on supplemental Calcium and what you guys use for calcium.

I have a mixed aged flock, some laying hens and pullets, some chicks, a rooster, and often some cockerels. I always have oyster shell available. In general, the ones that need it eat it, the others don't eat enough to harm themselves.

They all need calcium for body maintenance and growth just like you need some calcium even if you are not personally laying eggs. The chickens laying eggs need a lot more than the non-laying ones. How much they eat is not an indication of how much calcium their bodies need. Sometimes they get a lot from the environment: plants, critters, or even rocks if your soil has limestone in it. Chicken feed also has calcium in it. If they do not get enough calcium from other sources they may go through oyster shell fairly quickly. If they are getting enough from other sources they may hardly ever touch the oyster shell.

I try to stay on the natural side for their diet

And yet you give them all that other stuff as supplements. Interesting. I don't see anything on that list that will hurt them as long as it is offered in moderation, just don't overdo anything to upset a balanced diet. A decent chicken feed contains all the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals they need so that should be the main part of their diet. If course, if they forage for a lot of their food you have lost the ability to micromanage their diet.

I appreciate anything that has worked for you in keeping your pullets healthy and strong.

The main thing I do is to try to strengthen their immune system. If they are raised by a broody hen the hen takes care of this. But for my brooder-raised chicks I feed them a small amount of dirt from the run where the adults are twice a week. This gets grit into their system, introduces them to any probiotics the adults have, and exposes them to anything their immune system needs to protect them against. If you do not have any adults, feeding them a little dirt still gives them grit and may introduce things in the soil they need to start their immune system protecting them. So expose them to their environment as soon as reasonable.

I try to keep the brooder, coop, and run dry. If they get wet and stay wet for a few days they can stink and harbor diseases. This includes keeping their drinking water clean. If the water gets poop in it and sits, after a few days dirty drinking water can harbor diseases.