Omega 3's & Calcium questions - (Anaphylaxis concerns)

[KirstyL]

Hello Everyone!

First off this website is awesome!!!

I'm a new chicken mum. Our flock consists of 4 and I call the group The Meeps Meeps or The Meeps for short We have 2 Black Sex Links and 2 Black Australorps (sp?). They were born during mid - March of this year, which means they should be laying hopefully next month or so. I've only named 2: Matilda & Pokey (Matilda is my picture).

I have a concern, I am deathly allergic to seafood (fish and shellfish) & nuts. I'm afraid of getting anaphylaxis if I give The Meeps oyster shells. It is possible I have already eaten eggs (from the grocery store) that have oyster in the chicken's diet but I'm not sure???

I have read The Meeps can eat their own egg shells but then I read that it may cause issues with them picking at their own eggs?

I'm wondering what other options I have for an omega 3 and calcium supplement?

Thank you in advance for your help

BTW I'm in New England.

 

[DanEP]

If your going to feed them egg shells, you should first dry them out. this can be done by air drying for a few days or baking in the oven or even in the microwave for 3-4 minutes. Then crush them up so they don't look like eggs but almost a powder and sprinkle on food

 

[Folly's place]

I would talk with my doctor about this. Oyster shell isn't a protein so may be fine. Chicken feed will have a calcium source, probably oyster shell. It will say on the label. If you are already handling it with no problems, that's fine. Egg shells fed to laying hens are not an adequate calcium source, although okay to feed. They still need oyster shell, either in their layer feed with minimal other feeds, or for sure if they are fed an all flock feed like Flock Raiser. Mary