oyster shell substitute

I've been saving my egg shells, rinsing them, baking them at 300 degrees for 20-30 minutes, then crushing them up very small. My girls go crazy for it.

 

I never see my girls eating their oyster shell yet I know that they will. I have a feeder with free choice oyster shell in it and have to refill rarely. The egg shell idea is a good one but it is easier for me to put eggshells in the compost.

 

Good information about the eggshells. I'm going to try the eggshells when my hens start laying.

 

I don't see my birds eating the oyster shell... however the oyster shell dish tray needs to be refilled and I've gone through well over a 5 gallon bucket of the stuff over the past decade.... it's not in the bedding, so I assume something ate it.

 

Most layer feed has enough calcium for them laying without supplemental caclium source. Can also supplement with yogurt and cottage cheese for extra protein and calcium.

 

I do eggshells, too, but I just nuke them in the microwave for 30 seconds to a minute and then crush them up.

 

What aggie9296 said.

Here's some other sources of calcium:

1. Spinach & Swiss Chard
2. Salmon & Sardines (canned with bones)
3. Mustard, Collard, Kale & Turnip greens
4. Shellfish
5. Blackstrap molasses (can cause runny stools)
6. Corn Tortillas
7. Yogurt
8. Mozzarella & Cheddar cheese
9. Milk, Buttermilk (goat's milk and cow's milk)
10. Basil, thyme, dill seed, cinnamon, and peppermint leaves
11. Romaine lettuce
12. Rhubarb
13. Almonds, Peanuts & Brazil Nuts
14. Black Beans, Dried Beans (Cooked)
15. Sesame seeds
16. Fennel
17. Cabbage, Bok Choy, & Chinese cabbage
18. Summer squash
19. Green beans
20. Garlic
21. Tofu & Soybeans
22. Brussel sprouts & Broccoli
23. Oranges (Some people do not feed citrus to chickens)
24. Asparagus & Okra
25. Crimini mushrooms
26. Foods Fortified with Calcium: Some Orange Juice, Breads, & Cereals

 

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