Oyster shell/calcium question

[chickenmomma16]

I recently switched from Nutrena All Flock to layer and back to all flock due to lots of new chicks in my coop and I like the egg quality better with them on all flock feed. I have oyster shell out for them free choice and it seems like they go through it quickly. One hen in particular (a 1 yr old Novo-Gen) eats it like candy! Should I worry about her getting too much calcium? Or will they always eat what they need? I’ve never had hens go through it this quick. I don’t see it on the ground either.

Their shells have always been good quality.


Picture of the Novo-Gen

 

[pennyJo1960]

They know how much may need seems strange you think she is having too much

 

[chickenmomma16]

They know how much may need seems strange you think she is having too much

I know, normally I don’t worry but I see her eating it like she would her normal feed. The leghorns don’t even eat as much oyster shell as she does. If I put fresh oyster shell out, she’s on it like a fly on poop!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Years ago, I had a Speckled Sussex cockerel that ate himself to death. He would just stand around the feed and eat. He got huge and died at 14 weeks. The others did not do that.

Tomato plant leaves can be harmful to chickens if they eat a lot of them but the plant leaves are bitter. Typically a chicken takes one bite and decides she does not want any more. A few years back someone posted that one of her hens would stand around and gorge herself on tomato plant leaves. That hen died.

You are dealing with living animals. Typically they don't just stand around eating until they die. They don't eat poisonous plants. They should know when they have enough oyster shell. Broody hens typically don't kill their chicks, they take good care of them. But sometimes there is something wrong with their instincts or bodies and they don't react as typical chickens do.

I don't know if your hen is eating enough to harm herself or not. It may not be as bad as it seems to you. Or she may have a defect. With living animals you can never be sure, anything can happen.

When I have an issue like this I try to decide f it is an individual chicken problem or a flock-wide problem. Then I decide what is best for the flock as a whole. It's not always an easy decision.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I've read some Chickens don't process Calcium as efficiently as most. That's why it's suggested to offer Oyster Shells even if they get a Layers feed.
I haven't fed a Layers feed in over a year.
I feed a Non-Medicated Starter-Grower or a All-Flock/Flock Raiser feed throughout adulthood with a separate container of Oyster Shells.
I have 6 pullets and 3 hens.
I notice a couple of my pullets consume more Oyster Shells than the rest. They are 10 months old and lay beautiful eggs. . GC

 

[rosemarythyme]

Some chickens seem to want more oyster shell than others, and sometimes you'll get ones that refuse to eat any of it at all, in which case you might need to find other ways to supplement. If you feel she's truly getting too much you might need to moderate how much she's getting, like putting out the oyster shell only for a short period of time each day or only putting out a small amount each time.