oyster shell & egg laying questions

[callieisspooky]

Hi, I'm new here & to chickens also! We have 7 hens, and they've just begun to lay eggs. We were told to add oyster shell to their feed, but the shell we purchased from the feed store isn't so much ground as in large pieces, maybe at least 1cm in diameter. Is that a problem? Also, how much do I add to their feed?

Also, I was letting the hens out during the day to free range, but I'm worried they might learn to lay eggs outside their coop. Should I keep them locked up until they all learn to lay in the coop? Or can I continue to let them out during the day?

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[Yay Chicks!]

You don't need to add the oyster shell to their feed. You can just put some in a dish and they will take it as they need it. They do fine with the size of the pieces.

You might try putting golf balls in the nest boxes to give them the idea that is a safe place to lay. Hopefully they will chose that over laying hither and yon, but there's no guarantee that I know of.

 

[donrae]

Most folks keep the hens confined until they consistently lay in the nest boxes. They're creatures of habit and once they start laying in one place they like to return there.

Just offer some oyster shell in another dish or scatter some on the ground. When they first start laying they don't use much, you'll probably think they aren't eating any. They usually only eat a few pieces a day.

As to the size, I've seen my hens swallow a half grown mouse whole--just threw her head back and down it went! The oyster shell is a piece of cake for them.

 

[flewdacoop]

yup i agree i feed my rir oyster shells and i just through them out on the ground and as they need they scratch and eat them.. and i would use the golf ball trick also till they learn to lay in the coop..

 

[ChickEngineer]

I use an old dog water dish, put a hand full of oyster shells and grit about once a week. They seem to self regulate.

 

[Joe.G]

I do this with my Grit and oyster shells,

 

[smileyhayes]

Hi

I am only 3 yrs into our chickens, so I'm fairly new too ! I did everything wrong the first year, and still our Australorps survived. (well most of them)
They free range by day, and have the safety of a coop at night. I never did any of the golf ball in the nest boxes thing, yet they still lay in the boxes daily. The only problem I ran into, was this year, we had a broody hen hatch out 4 eggs, in the nest boxes, which are above ground. I was worried that the chick's would fall out, so after they all hatched, we gently moved them to a ground box, and luckily, all survived, and flourished ! We alternate with the oyster shell and grit. They seem to like the oyster shell in the summer, and the grit in the winter. Probably because we have a limestone driveway and they get all the grit they need when they free range. Good luck, and enjoy ! The fresh eggs are soooo worth the effort ! This is a great place to get your questions answered also, dont be afraid to ask. No question is a dumb question here !

Smiley