I am going to be switching all my chickens over to flock raiser when my new chicks become integrated, and I have been told that I should also then offer oyster shells on the side for my layers. First of all, do I need to make these inaccessible to the younger chickens? And also, is there something I could give them instead of oyster shells, like their own eggs shells, or otherwise? And P.S. Is this still a necessary addition for free ranging birds? Thank you!
I've done the same for a few batches of chicks and have never seen a chick take any oyster shell. Not that i don't know they don't, just have never seen it. Instead of buying oyster shell, lots of folks give the eggshells back to the chickens -- crushed, ground up, microwaved to cook any egg still left -- I've seen a number of methods talked about here. I don't have a lot of chickens and even feeding flock raiser, I doubt I've ever spent $20 on oyster shell in a year. You could try it without oyster shell or other calcium supplement. i guess you'd know it was a problem if you started getting problem eggshells.
Thanks! So I can give their egg shells in lieu of oyster shell and it is the same supplement? It's not that I don't want to supplement, just wondered whether or not it was necessary for free range birds, and it isn't the cost, it's just that we're vegan aside from our own chickens' eggs, so oyster shell is not something I want to buy unless there was no other choice.
We eat oysters here in Maryland and I am wondering if putting out the real oyster shells for them to peck would do any harm?
I would imagine that you treat them the same way you do egg shells, microwave them a couple minutes to kill anything on them, and crush them up. Is the "oyster shell" bought for chickens not real? Maybe someone else can tell you for sure.
Try looking up Aragonite. I understand not wanting to use oyster shells. http://www.ehow.com/info_8661453_aragonite-uses.html http://www.fertrell.com/poultry.htm The chicks won't overindulge in the calcium supplement from my experience. They will taste it though and maybe eat a tiny amount. I like to give a supplement since if they have weak eggshells the shell can break inside the hen. You can try just giving them their calcium back but I have noted that even when I do that they still like to eat the oyster shells. To each their own.
The shells will need to be small flakes, so I don't know how you can do that manually as I have never tried. Yes, they are real oyster shells.
Here's a list of other sources of calcium: Spinach & Swiss Chard Salmon & Sardines (canned with bones) Mustard, Collard, Kale & Turnip greens Shellfish Blackstrap molasses (can cause runny stools) Corn Tortillas Yogurt Mozzarella & Cheddar cheese Milk, Buttermilk (goat's milk and cow's milk) Basil, thyme, dill seed, cinnamon, and peppermint leaves Romaine lettuce Rhubarb Almonds, Peanuts & Brazil Nuts Black Beans, Dried Beans (Cooked) Sesame seeds Fennel Cabbage, Bok Choy, & Chinese cabbage Summer squash Green beans Garlic Tofu & Soybeans Brussel sprouts & Broccoli Oranges (Some people do not feed citrus to chickens) Asparagus & Okra Crimini mushrooms Foods Fortified with Calcium: Some Orange Juice, Breads, & Cereals Also Vitamin D and magnesium help with the absorbtion of calcium. Imp
Thank you guys! I will look into that, I appreciate the links. As to breaking the shells into small flakes, I don't know if it would work with oyster shell, but after baking the shells I crush them a little with my hands, they are very brittle after heating, then give them a few quick pumps in our small blade grinder.
