Offering oyster shell

[Egghead_Jr]

Gary, this is exactly what I'm talking about...

I am still buying eggs, only getting a couple a day so far and I noticed that the store eggs shells are WAY thinner than my eggs, my girls are getting 17% layer pellets.

Gary

Depending on your source of feed layer pellets can vary from 3-5% calcium. That is figgin' huge! For those that also add oyster shell on side or god forbid mix with the layer feed...wow.

Let's all get the more is better thing out of head and think...yeah, just think for a second...if the shell is tough enough why add more calcium? I'v been saying for years that the 3.5-4% is too much in layer feed and know there are bends out there with as much as 5%. Add oyster to that and ask the local blacksmith to crack your eggs each morning for omlets.

It's just too much is all I'm saying. People in general think more of a good thing is better...well, look at the results and think or postulate what is better for you in your flock and situation.

If it takes more than two whacks on a bowl then your shells are too thick in my mind...unless you want them in a time capsule and to hatch after the opening. Stop and think...what are my shells like? For me with an all flock feed of 1% calcium and the amount of range for bugs my girls get...it only takes a handful of oyster per week for 9 layers...that might be too much also as I never am regimented at it. If thin give some more....calcium is assimulated in th body in a day, give another day and your shells are thick again, it holds in the body for a long time....if your shells are concrete then withhold the extra calcium. See what works for you not what some $hole like me told you to do.

 

[spicewood chick]

Is the oyster shell the same as DE? Can I use the DE or is that different uses?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

The above post and general consensus of calcium and shell thickness has nothing to do with new layers. It's been overdone the new layers and soft shells....THIS IS WHAT NEW LAYERS DO! Until their "egg tract", for lack of better phrase, is matured there is nothing you can do to make it better. Wait it out and don't succumb to the "more oyster is better" camp. Their reproductive organs need to mature and that doesn't happen at the same day. Wait it out. It doesn't take any longer to get good shells from new layers if you feed normal calcium or drown them in it. It's the new layers thing and their maturation of ovation not calcium. Just don't overload for effect just because you've soft shells of new layers...that is actually normal. Give a month and it will work out without the calcium overload.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

DE is a deterrant of crawling bugs. Not a cure. Not a calciuum source and not a miracle.

Is the oyster shell the same as DE? Can I use the DE or is that different uses?

Like wood ash it can be used in dust bathing areas. I actually use pure wood ash in winter in an old galvanized wash tub. DE like wood ash will deter lice, mites, etc. it is not a cure of any of those and more aliments. It is however a great deterent. I went three years in new location without need of Permethrin10 because I was- lucky? Used wood ash baths? and you could do the same to cut down the parisite load. It's not a cure. Less times to treat your pets with a cure by using a deterent like DE or woodash then that's good.

 

[BYCforlife]

The little ones and males don't really eat it. They peck at it and try some but it's the hens that gobble it up as needed.

I don't leave a dish out rather toss a handful on the ground once a week for nine layers. And if I forget then two handfuls every two weeks and if I forget again and start noticing the shells getting a little thin toss two handfuls on the ground and another in a week. It's quickly assimilated in the hens system and lasts a while. It's mind boggling to me how much calcium some people give their hens. They really don't need that much. If it's taking two or three whacks to break an egg on the side of dish they have more calcium in system than needed. People that feed layer feed and mix in oyster shell must need a hammer.

My hens are never interested in OS. I guess they are good enough, because their eggs are fine, and I free range them after lunch.