My little ladies started eating there eggs this morning.

[Varglet]

You can save money and use the egg shells instead of buying oyster shell. Crush the shells up then bake them for a little while in the oven (makes them more brittle), then crush them further into tiny little pieces. My chickens have nice, thick shells from doing this (in addition to feeding them cracked open, whole, raw eggs). And it won't look like eggshells, for those convinced feeding whole shells will cause egg eaters.

 

[aart]

You can save money and use the egg shells instead of buying oyster shell. Crush the shells up then bake them for a little while in the oven (makes them more brittle), then crush them further into tiny little pieces. My chickens have nice, thick shells from doing this (in addition to feeding them cracked open, whole, raw eggs). And it won't look like eggshells, for those convinced feeding whole shells will cause egg eaters.

Egg shells can help with calcium, but it really moves thru the system to fast to be absorbed well enough to be the only calcium source...oyster shell is a much better choice and you can mix the crushed egg shells to mix with the oyster shell.

 

[Varglet]

Quote: I've never used oyster shell and have nice thick shells on all of my eggs. My turkey eggs you nearly need a hammer to open (exaggerated, of course), and that doesn't even include the thick membranes.

 

[aart]

Quote: I've never used oyster shell and have nice thick shells on all of my eggs. My turkey eggs you nearly need a hammer to open (exaggerated, of course), and that doesn't even include the thick membranes.
Are you feeding layer feed? Do they free range?

 

[abenardini]

Oyster shell around here is only about $7.00 for a fifty pound sack. I don't know how much it is in your areas, but I think it's a worthwhile investment to keep the hens healthy.