Is this okay for their calcium deficiency?

[fatimastic]

I have 7 hens and 1 black Australorp roo. My hens have been laying softshell eggs for a long time. Like 3-4 months. Along with those weird underdeveloped eggs.
I asked my father to bring me some crushed oyster shells and he couldn't find any, so he bought this. Will this work? Or should we return it? This can also be given to cattle.

 

[DobieLover]

I have 7 hens and 1 black Australorp roo. My hens have been laying softshell eggs for a long time. Like 3-4 months. Along with those weird underdeveloped eggs.
I asked my father to bring me some crushed oyster shells and he couldn't find any, so he bought this. Will this work? Or should we return it? This can also be given to cattle.

In a pinch it can be used as a top dressing but will be very hard to control the amount to feed. And the rooster will be forced to eat it as well which will eventually damage his kidneys.
There are no places in Pakistan that sell oyster shell? Have you searched the internet?

 

[fatimastic]

In a pinch it can be used as a top dressing but will be very hard to control the amount to feed. And the rooster will be forced to eat it as well which will eventually damage his kidneys.
There are no places in Pakistan that sell oyster shell? Have you searched the internet?

I found this online. Its for parrots and other birds like pigeons. Will this work?

 

[DobieLover]

I found this online. Its for parrots and other birds like pigeons. Will this work?

Yes. I imagine it will be very expensive buying in such a small quantity though. There are no stores anywhere near you where you can get a large bag?

 

[fatimastic]

Yes. I imagine it will be very expensive buying in such a small quantity though. There are no stores anywhere near you where you can get a large bag?

We are getting 1 kg for $3.8 I suppose. But sadly we don't have any other option. Resources here are somewhat limited.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

The good news is, excessive dicalcium phosphate was NOT found to be as damaging as an excess of calcium carbonate (the primary mineral form found in oyster shell and limestone) in high calcium diets. Portion control will be challenging, but yes, you can absolutely use it.

As to a comparison of the two products in terms of dietary effects, you might find this interesting

 

[fatimastic]

The good news is, excessive dicalcium phosphate was NOT found to be as damaging as an excess of calcium carbonate (the primary mineral form found in oyster shell and limestone) in high calcium diets. Portion control will be challenging, but yes, you can absolutely use it.

As to a comparison of the two products in terms of dietary effects, you might find this interesting

Sorry for my foolish question, but don't we provide Calcium in a separate bowl, different from their feed, so that the hen can eat according to her deficiency? Unless added to the diet, will they consume Calcium Carbonate in excess?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Sorry for my foolish question, but don't we provide Calcium in a separate bowl, different from their feed, so that the hen can eat according to her deficiency? Unless added to the diet, will they consume Calcium Carbonate in excess?

NOT A foolish question. Yes, calcium should be separate from the feed if you can arrange it. A lot of people in the US don't do it that way, unfortunately. Glad things are done properly there. i trust the CaPhO4 comes as something other than a fine powder in that bag? Helps if they can pick it up.

 

[fatimastic]

NOT A foolish question. Yes, calcium should be separate from the feed if you can arrange it. A lot of people in the US don't do it that way, unfortunately. Glad things are done properly there. i trust the CaPhO4 comes as something other than a fine powder in that bag? Helps if they can pick it up.

Sorry to break yoir trust, but CaPhO4 comes in a fine powder. A fine powder would indeed be difficult to swallow.

Should we return CaPhO4 then and opt for crushed oyster shells?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

use crushed oyster shell if its available and cheaper. if not, feed the birds a wet mash of oatmeal-like consistency with 1% CaPhO3 stirred in.

Monitor the birds for 10 days, adjust up or down 0.5% as needed, go 10 days, adjust again till you get things dialed in to your flock's needs.

at least, that's how i would so it, but i'm not a vet, and we don't use much CaPhO3 here for backyard flicks.