Manna Pro Oyster Shell

[HannahDiaz9495]

I have a flock of about 25 hens and I want to supplement their food with the manna pro oyster shells. Should i mix is into theor food or keep a seperate feeder for them? Also is there such thing as too much ouster shell in there diet?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Use a separate container.... this allows each bird to take only what she needs in any given day.... which avoids any concern of too much

 

[Dayrel]

Keep separate. They'll naturally eat it when they feel the need.

 

[AlleysChicks]

Should be in a side dish or they will probably eat around it until it blocks the food. I may have had that happen early on in chicken keeping

I'd get a 50lb bag at tsc for $8.99 it's cheaper than the little bags. And lasts longer.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

I agree with the others, serve it on the side. Also I would get the 50# bag but it cost me $12.

Yes there is such as thing as too much calcium. It can (doesn't mean will) cause gout or kidney failure especially if fed long term to birds who aren't laying like molting hens or roosters.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Mine all refuse to use the manna pro brand.

Mine went crazy for the pacific pearl brand.
Literally I filled and then changed out for fresh after 2 months and the only change to the manna pro was the dust settling on it.

I put out the pacific pearl and every hen had a go at it and when I refill it they hit it again.
I have gone through nearly 30 pounds in the last 3 years with a fairly large flock.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Mine all refuse to use the manna pro brand.

Mine went crazy for the pacific pearl brand.
Literally I filled and then changed out for fresh after 2 months and the only change to the manna pro was the dust settling on it.

I put out the pacific pearl and every hen had a go at it and when I refill it they hit it again.
I have gone through nearly 30 pounds in the last 3 years with a fairly large flock.

Is your use rate with using layer feed which is about 4% calcium? And how large is a fairly large flock (30 birds or 10)? With 30+ layers using flock raiser (1% calcium) I think I went through 50# in just over a year.

I never thought about brand because they are in those big brown bags. But I think mine also might be pacific pearl.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I feed layer feed, Nutrena brand. I think it is a 4% calcium.

Mine get things like eggshells and brocolli. The eggshells are crushed up and put in the wet mash twice a week. Maybe a dozen shells worth a week. Oh and canned Mackerel once a week in the wet mash. I think that is why they are using so much less.

The manna pro looks like crushed drywall while the pacific pearl is thin crushed shells that still look shell like. Huge difference in my shell quality since changing.

Oh and flock size tends to hover between 27 and 35 birds.

 

[makmm]

Should be in a side dish or they will probably eat around it until it blocks the food. I may have had that happen early on in chicken keeping

I'd get a 50lb bag at tsc for $8.99 it's cheaper than the little bags. And lasts longer.

I second this. I put mine in a separate dish also.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

The manna pro looks like crushed drywall while the pacific pearl is thin crushed shells that still look shell like. Huge difference in my shell quality since changing.

Funny story, over the weekend I picked up a bag of oyster shell and had to smile when I saw it was Pacific Pearl, couldn't wait to get it home and open it..... you weren't kidding about the difference!