oyster shell a must?

[fordmommy]

Is oyster shell a must if they are on Layer food? And is layer food okay for the roos? Or should I offer them something else? And if so, how to feed the roos seperate?

 

[Branderella]

I was told oyster shell is a must. Layer pellets dont have the "stuff" oyster shell has in it to make the shel hardy. I havent heard of any problems with feeding pellets to roos!

 

[apukanski]

I keep oyster shell in the coop for free choice, they eat it when thay need it.

 

[fordmommy]

So I should feed the oyster shell seperate???

 

[Chirpy]

The calcium they get from the oyster shell is very important to help them 'build' strong shells.

I use oyster shells but I also use all the egg shells they give me. I bake the shells for about 10 to 15 minutes and then crush them up and put it back into the oyster shell feeder. Some people don't bother baking the shells they just crush them and feed them back to their flock. I figure that I want to make sure my chickens don't 'recognize' (by smell or sight) their own eggs thus not encouraging them from eating their own eggs.... thus why I bake them first.

They should have access 24/7 to it.

 

[cmom]

I agree with the other posts. I leave a dish of free choice oyster shells by their feed. They will take what they want or need.

 

[dtimms]

What sort of dish do you use to offer the oyster shell? I was thinking of getting crafty with a cat food can and a wire hanger so I could attach it to the chicken wire around the base of my tractor, and do the same with some grit. But I don't know if that's big enough for 3 hens to last a little while? Anyone else with a DIY oyster shell feeder of some kind?

 

[The Zoo]

I use a yogurt container with wire and hang it on the side of the pen. I just make sure it's filled with oyster shell and they eat it when they want to. I have their feed the same way (in old yogurt or cottage cheese containers wired to the side of the fence).

 

[Judy]

They do need more calcium than layer provides. My soil has a lot of limestone in it. I have oyster shell available but they rarely touch it, and their eggshells are fine. I don't like the idea of mixing the oyster shell in the feed because I think they need to decide when and how much, just as with grit.

 

[lleighmay]

I screwed a tuna can to the wall and they can get the shell whenever they want it. I also add baked used crushed eggshells back into the mix as I have them (or as I think about fixing them) and so far all seems well. I don't have to refill it very often but it's always there if they want it. Since I'm getting ready to integrate some new pullets into the pen in a few weeks I'll probably add another tuna can or two at different locations (maybe one outside under the overhang) so there's enough to go around if they all suddenly want a snack.