Oyster shell too big!!

[curerbell]

So in the UK we have a large pet superstore called Pets At Home, they sell oyster shell for chickens in a small brown bag - am I the only one who thinks it's WAY too large for chickens to eat?? I know I can crush it smaller myself, but why should I need to? Surely Pets At Home need to produce and sell it much finer??

 

[Den in Penn]

They can swallow a fairly large rock. I have seen rock the size of peas when I have cut open their gizzards. The more normal size is a little larger then rice. They actually need a decent size to grind their food. Now oyster shell isn't grit, but the ability to swallow it is.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I always thought the shells were too large too. I mean you only feed it to laying age hens so they will swallow it no problem but it seems so wasteful as they certainly are not grinding it to dust and getting the full calcium value from it.


I'd wrap some in a old towel and pound it with a hammer. Anymore I take the easy way out and feed layer pellets which have the added calcium.