Oyster shell question.

[Justanother Brooke]

Do you throw oyster shell out like scratch, or do you give them a bowl of it? Also, how much and how often?
My girls aren't looking like they will be ready to lay any time soon, but I'd like to get ready!

 

[Imp]

I think most people keep a separate bowl/container of it near the food. The hens will eat it as needed. They will probably not go through it fast.

Imp

 

[chick4chix]

I keep a separate small bowl of it attached to the inside of their ark- they eat it when needed. I used to put in a combo of grit/oyster shell but now that they are out free ranging most of the day they get plenty of sand and grit from the ground, so I went to straight oyster shell. They seem to know themselves when they need it and help themselves.

 

[gritsar]

I installed inexpensive hopper type feeders, the same as you would buy for rabbits, in each of my coops. The hens know that's where to find their oyster shell.

 

[TigerLilly]

Quote:
That's a good idea! I believe I'll be doing that as well.
I may even try a solid-bottom feeder for the mini goat mineral...

 

[ikatiemay]

My DH made 2 PVC pipe dispensers one for grit and one for shell. They take up very little room and are easy to refill.

 

[Justanother Brooke]

Thanks for the info! DH and I were just talking about making some PVC feeders, maybe I will have him make one for the oyster shell too. If not, those little rabbit feeders look good, and I just saw a whole bunch of them at the feed & grain store.

 

[JudyK]

I have a couple piles of oyster shells. Can I just smash them up? How fine would they have to be?

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
I've seen different grades of of it. Some I've used in the past was like small gravel. I bought some yesterday that was the consistency of layer mash.

You can just smash them up until you get down to about pea gravel size. They'll eat it.

 

[gryeyes]

I have an empty tuna can nailed to the wall of the main coop, by the PVC feeder. I keep it full of crushed oyster shell.

However, not everybody has right s to the main coop, so I also have a small "wash tub" I bought somewhere ('cause it was so cute) which I keep full in the front yard, too. AND I dump some by the fish ponds, right on the ground, in one particular area. That way the ducks can find it, too.