Let’s talk oyster shells/ egg shells for first time layers

[Jenilynchickmom]

So my gals (1 Brahma, 1 golden laced polish, 1 black sexlink, 1 speckled Sussex, 1 silver laced Wyandotte & 1 isa brown) just turned 16 weeks and I have not seen an egg yet but have still around 30 pounds left of the chick bag I bought. My local store said to supplement and just give some shell until my next bag. I have 2 questions:

#1- I just put out a bowl of oyster shell (maybe 3 tablespoons in it) next to their food and they ate it all like it was a treat! Should I put out more or are they going to eat it too? I thought they only ate when they needed it??

#2 I have both oyster shells and some dried and smushed shells I was thinking I could mix-it in the scratch I throw them 2x a day (maybe 1/2 a cup each time for the 6 girls) Instead. Would this be better?

help a first timer out please!!!

 

[MrFluffyandGirls]

I do not give mine extra calcium unless I see they maybe lacking the nutrient in their shell quality. So far I've never bought any to give to them and they lay perfectly fine eggs. Many good well balanced layer feeds have enough where you don't need extra. I also would not give laying feed or supplemental extras for laying until after they start to lay. Just chick food, starter or all flock until the first egg.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

I do not give mine extra calcium unless I see they maybe lacking the nutrient in their shell quality. So far I've never bought any to give to them and they lay perfectly fine eggs. Many good well balanced layer feeds have enough where you don't need extra. I also would not give laying feed or supplemental extras for laying until after they start to lay. Just chick food, starter or all flock until the first egg.

I am so glad this thread was started because my Chewy order was on schedule but I had not timed it perfectly with being out of feed and my girls do not like the transition I tried to make to Nutrena feed. They are Scratch and Peck all the way. I’m glad they finally started carrying an 18% ration. The Nutrena is giving them super loose stools so I bumped the order time up to ASAP but didn’t know if it was best to get the layer feed with the Oyster Shell built in so to speak or to feed it separately so I got feed with it and feed without it. I figured I could try both ways after they started actually laying eggs though. Thank you for clarifying.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Do they have access to grit?

Not unusual to see chicks try out oyster shell, so I wouldn't worry too much if they eat some, but they should stop gorging on it once the novelty wears off.

 

[Jenilynchickmom]

Do they have access to grit?

Not unusual to see chicks try out oyster shell, so I wouldn't worry too much if they eat some, but they should stop gorging on it once the novelty wears off.

Hi! Thanks for your response, they are on sand and have grit from the sand/ tiny pebbles. Should I just mix the shells in with their daily scratch? Would that be ok?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I use All Flock (see Sig for why) so free choice Oyster Shell for my layers. They will eat what they think they need, when they think they need it. When it was a novelty, everyone tried it. Within a couple days or so, most decided they didn't need it, and it became a play toy to tip over, cover with straw, and otherwise ignore.

As to the lack of eggs? Based on your breeds, I'd not really be expecting to see much. (All +/- 2 weeks) Your Brahma start around 26 weeks, Polish 22, BSL are like my Golden Comets - around 16 weeks they often start, can be as late as 20 (Mine are 3 days into their 16th week, no eggs), Sussex like the Polish @ 22 weeks +/-2, SLW are slow to lay, 26 weeks, and your ISA Brown? 20-22 weeks is the range I see tossed around the most.

Little intestinal oddities in the stool also not uncommon with feed changes - have you considered giving them some plain yogurt?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Hi! Thanks for your response, they are on sand and have grit from the sand/ tiny pebbles. Should I just mix the shells in with their daily scratch? Would that be ok?

Oyster shell shouldn't be mixed in with food or treats unless you're specifically trying to treat a bird that needs more calcium but doesn't want to take it. Your birds are barely old enough to be laying so they definitely don't qualify for that.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I offer Oyster Shells separately after 15 weeks old.

I drilled 3/32 inch holes in bottom of pail to drain moisture.

GC

 

[thepick4uchicks]

I offer Oyster Shells separately after 15 weeks old. View attachment 2306374
I drilled 3/32 inch holes in bottom of pail to drain moisture. View attachment 2306376
GC

Awesome post! Thanks for taking the time to take the picture and post! Newbies should appreciate! Thank you!

 

[thepick4uchicks]

I use All Flock (see Sig for why) so free choice Oyster Shell for my layers. They will eat what they think they need, when they think they need it. When it was a novelty, everyone tried it. Within a couple days or so, most decided they didn't need it, and it became a play toy to tip over, cover with straw, and otherwise ignore.

As to the lack of eggs? Based on your breeds, I'd not really be expecting to see much. (All +/- 2 weeks) Your Brahma start around 26 weeks, Polish 22, BSL are like my Golden Comets - around 16 weeks they often start, can be as late as 20 (Mine are 3 days into their 16th week, no eggs), Sussex like the Polish @ 22 weeks +/-2, SLW are slow to lay, 26 weeks, and your ISA Brown? 20-22 weeks is the range I see tossed around the most.

Little intestinal oddities in the stool also not uncommon with feed changes - have you considered giving them some plain yogurt?

Thanks for the information! Great for us newbies. Thank you for taking the time.