Oyster shell..... Could this mean eggs?

[cnj-tx50]

I have my flock for 4 months now and most of my girls are between 26 and 28 weeks old and only one has been laying for 5 weeks. I have a dish of oyster shell out for them since the end of July and no one ate it. Now in a matterof days it;s empty and I have refilled it. Could this mean eggs?

 

[teach1rusl]

Hmmm...I have no idea. But I'll watch to see how this is answered, to know whether that's a sign or not...

 

[chookchick]

Yes, that's a very good sign. My pullets only started chowing down the shell about a week before they started laying. They usually eat some shell even though they are on layer food, but now that they are molting, "taking a break", whatever (not laying!

) the shell is untouched. So I think it is a very good indicator of egg production.

 

[cnj-tx50]

Oh! That's wonderful news! Maybe the wait is over!!! I have been watching and checking for about 3 weeks now. About 7 of them have bright red combs and waddles and they have been doing the "egg song" but no eggs!!!! I was beginning to think I was going to have to be happy with the one egg-a-day.

eeeee

 

[ranchhand]

Mine also start eating the oyster shell shortly before laying, so maybe you'll have some good news soon!

Just FYI, they're called "wattles" not "waddles".

 

[cnj-tx50]

Thanks for the FYI!!!

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
I'm a former Austinite- got brisket?

Hope you get eggs soon- before long, you'll be begging people to take some.

 

[cnj-tx50]

As a matter of fact we filled our smoker this weekend and I was telling the girls that I liked smoked chicken just as much as I like brisket!!!