Oyster shell question

[NatJ]

Do you have to the clean the egg shells in any way? I read something awhile that discouraged using their shells. I know nothing and would really like to use the shells but need more information. Thank you.

No, you do not need to clean eggshells in any way before giving them to hens to eat.

Personally, I just take the shells out to the chicken pen, drop them on the ground, and use my foot to squish any that still "look like" an egg to me. The hens take it from there. I'm not even sure the squishing is necessary, since the hens are good at breaking it smaller if they want it smaller.

Lots of people do various forms of cleaning or processing (rinsing, drying, baking in the oven, crushing, grinding-- the options are endless.) I do not think those do any harm, but I also do not think they are needed, so I've never bothered.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Like @NatJ, I do nothing before giving egg shells back to the flock. I can offer a long list of risks associated with not rinsing, baking, and breaking [disease, disease, behavior], but as a matter of risk management I find the effort exceeds the likely risk - so I don't bother.

 

[FunClucks]

Do you have to the clean the egg shells in any way? I read something awhile that discouraged using their shells. I know nothing and would really like to use the shells but need more information. Thank you.

I'm pretty new to this (~6 months) and have less than 20 chickens, but when I feed them egg shells from store bought eggs, I bake them first. When I feed their own egg shells back to them, I'll bake them if it may take me a few days to feed them so they don't get nasty sitting out on the counter. If I'm feeding immediately, I just make sure the eggshell doesn't look like an egg any more for behavior sake (avoiding egg eaters).

 

[CrystalAnon]

My pullets are 16 weeks, I don’t think they’ll lay for a bit still. When should I start offering oyster shell, (and switch to layer feed, for that matter)? And also, I have oyster shells from the ocean lying around from various vacays, can I crush those and give them to the girls? Or is it best to use store bought? Any guesses when they’ll lay?

Wow!! Beautiful chickens!
Is the 3rd over from the left an Alchemist Blue? She looks just like my almost 8-week old Alchemist Blue, Xena.
I realize this was from a bit ago. When did they start laying?

 

[alinas2010]

Wow!! Beautiful chickens!
Is the 3rd over from the left an Alchemist Blue? She looks just like my almost 8-week old Alchemist Blue, Xena.
I realize this was from a bit ago. When did they start laying?

Thank you. That is my Pepper, she is a Sapphire Gem, just a hybrid. She lays large light brown eggs with a few speckles. I’ve never heard of an Alchemist Blue, is that a hybrid, too?

I believe the first one laid at 18 weeks and after that it seemed they all started laying within the next week or so. It happened so fast.

Here’s an updated picture of Pepper.

 

[CrystalAnon]

Thank you. That is my Pepper, she is a Sapphire Gem, just a hybrid. She lays large light brown eggs with a few speckles. I’ve never heard of an Alchemist Blue, is that a hybrid, too?

I believe the first one laid at 18 weeks and after that it seemed they all started laying within the next week or so. It happened so fast.

Here’s an updated picture of Pepper.

Yes, Xena is a hybrid, from Alchemist Farm in Sebastopol CA. Blueish-greenish eggs. The only thing they say about the mix is “Isbar influence”. Her “sister” Lucy, looks completely different from her. Black with brown flecks on the edges of her feathers, so far. And Lucy has a little Mohawk.
https://www.alchemistfarm.com/alchemist-blue-chickens/
I love Peppers black neck feathers! Makes for quite a pretty contrast!
I’ll take a picture of them when there’s more sun in their run later.

 

[alinas2010]

Yes, Xena is a hybrid, from Alchemist Farm in Sebastopol CA. Blueish-greenish eggs. The only thing they say about the mix is “Isbar influence”. Her “sister” Lucy, looks completely different from her. Black with brown flecks on the edges of her feathers, so far. And Lucy has a little Mohawk.
https://www.alchemistfarm.com/alchemist-blue-chickens/
I love Peppers black neck feathers! Makes for quite a pretty contrast!
I’ll take a picture of them when there’s more sun in their run later.

How neat! They do look very similar, I will have to keep those in mind in the future. Yes I’d like to see a pic

 

[CrystalAnon]

How neat! They do look very similar, I will have to keep those in mind in the future. Yes I’d like to see a pic

I prob should have waited to put some Alfalfa down, so she’d be looking at me instead of down.
Here is Xena. One next to one of our Moss Eggers (Quiche… another hybrid- Dark chocolate-colored eggs, as long as she ends up a she ) and one with Xena in the center with one of our Azure Eggers next to her. (Also a hybrid… blue eggs)

 

[CrystalAnon]

How neat! They do look very similar, I will have to keep those in mind in the future. Yes I’d like to see a pic

And here is Lucy… Xena’s Alchemist Blue “sister”.
Totally different look.

 

[alinas2010]

And here is Lucy… Xena’s Alchemist Blue “sister”.
Totally different look.

I prob should have waited to put some Alfalfa down, so she’d be looking at me instead of down.
Here is Xena. One next to one of our Moss Eggers (Quiche… another hybrid- Dark chocolate-colored eggs, as long as she ends up a she ) and one with Xena in the center with one of our Azure Eggers next to her. (Also a hybrid… blue eggs)

Wow they do look so different! They’re very pretty tho. What fun, it’s like a lottery draw as to what they’ll end up looking like! Both of our grey ones were supposed to be the same, too, but one ended up having a lot more gold on her neck and I’ve been told she’s a Rhode Island Blue chicken. A hybrid all the same. I bet you will get a beautiful basket full of eggs from those ladies!