Limit to amount of oyster shell?

[sammy145]

I just stared raising my rode island red's. 45. I talk to people who were raised on a farm and what i am finding out is oyster shell also keeps them laying. With the darkness coming upon us put a low watt bulb in the chicken house. This seem's to be working for me. Also they love eating the oyster shell. I also go through my feed store on question's and they will call the hatchery.

 

[Chris09]

Calcium -

The egg shell is composed primarily of calcium carbonate. The pullet's requirement for calciumis relatively low during the growing period, but when the first eggs are produced, the needis increased at least four times, with practically all of the increase being used for the productionof eggshells. Inadequate calcium consumption will result in decreased egg production and loweregg shell quality.

Hens store calcium in medullary bone, a specialized bone capable of rapid calcium turnover. As calcium stores are depleted, bones become brittle. In severe cases, hens are unable tostand. The condition is known as caged-layer fatigue. Birds on the ground or on litter floorsrecycle calcium and phosphorus through consumption of feces, and do not have caged-layer fatigue.

Calcium can be supplied in the diet as either ground limestone or oyster shell. Particlesize affects calcium availability. Usually the larger the particle size, the longer the particlewill be retained in the upper digestive tract. This means that the larger particles of thecalcium source are released more slowly, and this may be important for the continuity of shellformation, especially in the dark period when birds do not ordinarily eat.

Periodically, dolomitic limestone is offered to the feed industry. However, dolomitic limestone(which is used in the steel industry) should never be used in poultry diets. Dolomitic limestonecontains at least 10% magnesium, and this complexes with calcium or competes with calcium forabsorption sites in the intestines. The consequence of feeding dolomitic limestone is inducedcalcium deficiency.

Young birds should not be fed a high calcium layer diet because the calcium/phosphorus ratio will be unbalanced, resulting in increased morbidity or mortality.
Information from U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps029

Chris

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
Oyster shells is a sore of Calcium Carbonate that helps to strengthen egg shells. Oyster shells will not make or keep your hen laying eggs.

Chris

 

[viktoriacl]

WOW lots of different opinions! So. Ill read this all over again and decide from their. I am in the medical field and understand the whole calcium thing I just dont know the exact requirements of a chicken. Well I should say I didnt before I read all the info you all posted! Thanks so much for all of the help!

 

[woodmort]

First of all, back to your original post: Your birds will lay this year regardless of the coming of winter. When they're ready, they will lay maybe not as much or as often but they will start. Second, they need calcium to cover their eggs, whether they get this from their diet or steal it from their bones, they will get it. By adding calcium through layer feed or oyster shells or feeding back their own egg shells, you are protecting the bird structurally and, probably, promoting a longer, healthier life. At the same time too much calcium in the diet of nonlaying birds is unhealthy since it can possibly lead to kidney problems since once their bodies have metabolized what little they need, it has to go someplace. Consequently you want to avoid overdoing it with young birds before they begin laying. Thus it is probably best to hold off feeding layer food to young birds until they are either laying or almost laying (the latter can be hard to judge if you have a flock of mixed varieties or ages so wait until all are laying). If some of the birds are laying, offering oyster shells on a free choice basis allows those that need it to get it without forcing it on the whole flock in their main diet. At the same time, some of the nonlaying birds may sample the shells but, since it is not the main source of food, will soon ignore it until they need it for eggs and before the excess will harm them. At least that is what we, in theory, hope--some chickens are not good dietitians. I might add as well that there are places where birds that free range manage to pick up enough calcium through diet so they get along just fine without the extra supplement.

 

[sunflowerenvy]

Quote:
how would give more calcium to one older hen that get me a soft egg every other day . when i try to to pick up the egg i break the shell all my other egg are hard to break lol.
i give them layer pellets all the time, treats of boss n scratch, or fresh vegetables, or defrost frozen veggies, or yorgut , grind up eggs shell once a week
laura

 

[Qi Chicken]

They may not be eating it all, they may be kicking it out or beaking it out of its container too.

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
how would give more calcium to one older hen that get me a soft egg every other day . when i try to to pick up the egg i break the shell all my other egg are hard to break lol.
i give them layer pellets all the time, treats of boss n scratch, or fresh vegetables, or defrost frozen veggies, or yorgut , grind up eggs shell once a week
laura

If it was me I would start giving them some vitamin/ electrolytes in there water (one that has Vit. D in it) and see if that helps.
If that didn't help that I would start giving Oyster shells, I believe I read somewhere that it takes 2 eggs per day per hen to supply enough Calcium for the Hen to use herself and still produce a strong egg..

Chris

 

[viktoriacl]

I believe I read somewhere that it takes 2 eggs per day per hen to supply enough Calcium for the Hen to use herself and still produce a strong egg..


WHAT? I dont get it.

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
When you use egg shells as a sole sores of Calcium for a Hen, You will have give her 2 egg shells per day to supply enough Calcium for the Hen to use herself and still produce a strong egg..

Chris