Normal for chickens to turn up their beaks at crushed oyster shells?

[Lucy4]

I offer it; they turn away and look at me like I'm trying to POISON them.

I wouldn't care, but their eggshells have been sort of weak lately. Anything else I can give them? (No, they won't eat pulverized egg shells either.)

Thanks.

 

[mdbokc]

A little raw apple cider vinegar in their water (1 T per gallon) helps with the absorption of nutrients, including minerals for egg shells.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Are you giving it free choice? we just mix it in with the feed and they eat it.

Steve in NC

 

[Lucy4]

Thanks to both of you. Never tried apple cider vinegar (but I use it as a facial toner, so it's around!) As for how I offered it, I just scattered it around the pen the same way I would treats. Perhaps I should put it in their feeder with the pellets? Will try. Thanks!

 

[Akane]

Oyster shell isn't attractive to chickens like treats are. They aren't going to chase it down and gobble it up. They'll eat a little as they feel like it or one day you may suddenly find the amount goes down and other days it won't. That's why most provide a seperate dish for it.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Quote:
Exactly! A hen will not touch oyster shell unless she needs it. I keep a filled dish inside the henhouse at all times.

 

[Scoot58]

I have a little bowl next to their feeder and I don't think they touch them much. I still have 1 hen who is dropping a jello egg while perching at night. Not sure why but I am getting 5-6 beautiful eggs a day from 7 girls so I am not worrying about it.

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

I offer it to mine in a separate hanging feeder. They only eat is as needed and it lasts quite a while.

Marty

 

[A.T. Hagan]

If they're coming to the end of their lay cycle and getting ready to molt it's common for the shell quality to deteriorate. Once they've molted and grown a new feather suit egg quality usually goes up again. Not quite as many as they used to lay, but typically somewhat larger.

.....Alan.

 

[Oopoo]

I save my eggshells and rinse them. Let them dry really well and keep them in an open container. Then I put them in the microwave for 1 min. wait and then again for about 1 min. then I crush them and my girls love them. You can also try crushed limestone. It alsco contains calcium and works like grit. yeah 2 for 1!