oster shell vs egg shell???

[fowler_chick]

ok i think i have every thing pretty much down pact about my girls eating habbits....., there about 10 weeks old now and are on start grower cumble and veggie snacks.......i will not be changing there feed to lay untill i start finding eggs in the coop...ok this might be a 2 question thing....i was told that it was better to feed crushed egg shell back to the chickens upon laying eggs rather then giving them oster shell...isn't oster shell better?.......if i only have one hen laying eggs is it ok to keep her on start grow untill the rest start to lay?

 

[MidnightChickenLover]

As long as it isn't medicated feed that you are already feeding, she should be fine for a while.

Giving back egg shells (mashed) is giving them back the calcium that they used for the egg. Oystershells (mashed) have more proteins in them along with the calcium. Feeding eggshells have to be mashed very well or they will start to eat their eggs. You can use either. Personnaly, I buy the oystershell mash and still give them the crumbled egg shells (free range). It just seems more econamical. I suggest, also, giving them the oystershells because giving them the eggs will not always improve the quality, texture, or thickness of their next egg.

You may even mix the two to save you some money...

 

[Mahonri]

Perhaps I'm doing my late bloomers a disservice but I start all of my pullets on layer feed at 18 weeks.

 

[MidnightChickenLover]

I actually beleive that most layer feed has less proteins in it, the only thing extra I think Layer feed has is calcium for thicker egg shells.

 

[Judy]

They will do best on 20% protein layer, and oyster shell offered separately. Egg shell is not a replacement for oyster shell; has to do with what is biologically available to them. I can't buy layer around here above 16% protein, so I supplement with scrambled eggs, etc.