Is it true?

[TwistedSteel]

Been doing it for years with no problems. I wash em in just water, set them somewhere to dry then crush them. Keep them in an open jar till I have enough to make it worth carrying them out to a bowl in the run. Never had an egg eater in my flock.

 

[Chickassan]

Yep sure can! The ones here get a couple boiled eggs in their supper during the winter since there aren't any bugs to speak of and they're happy to eat those shells.

 

[N F C]

I give shells to my flock occasionally too...they eat them up and I figure it's kind of free calcium.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Thank you all who posted after I said thank you last time!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Like I said, this is one of the most helpful chicken places in the world!

 

[FlyWheel]

Absolutely. First clean out the goo from the inside of the shells to get rid of any taste (this also keeps down the smell when you bake them). Bake then for ten minutes or so, it doesn't have to be real hot, 160F-200F is fine. This will kill off any bacteria, get rid of any egg odor and as a bonus it makes the shell more brittle so it will crumble easier. Lastly, crunch them up. I use a "Magic Bullet" blender but you can just crush them.

Contrary to myth this will not turn your chickens into egg eaters because the crumbled bits don't look, smell or taste anything like what comes out of their butts.

 

[aart]

Yes, you can.
Any way from just tossing the shells into run with not even a rinse...
....to washing and baking etc.

I rinse, air dry, and crush to mix with oyster shell in a separate feeder.

Keep in mind tho, it's not always the best way to supplement calcium.
It's fine if you're feeding layer feed, but if using a low calcium feed best to provide oyster shell too. The egg shells break down very quickly and may pass thru before being fully absorbed. OS will stay in gizzard longer and provide a more continuous supply of calcium.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I microwave the shells and then crush them up and put them into a mason jar. I add the crushed shells to their feed when I refill their feeder.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

I hard boil eggs and then crush them all up, shellac and all, making my flock a warm tasty treat! My chickens gobble it up!

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Thank you again everybody!