Oyster Shell vs Shell Grit

[debidoesnt]

Hi. I am new to the forum so I am counting on the Brains Trust to help me out. I am having trouble finding Oyster Shell in the top end of Australia and have a hen with soft egg shells. Will shell grit serve the same purpose of supplying calcium as oyster shell? If not, if the oyster shell flour from a gardening supply place safe for the hens and will they eat it? I have been giving them cuttle fish shell but am unsure if this will help either.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I believe shell grit is the same/similar to oyster shell (different terminology based on location) but if you could post a photo of a package that would help.

Basically if it's shell fragments or small shells, it's a calcium source.

 

[raingarden]

Calcium carbonate is calcium carbonate. Seashell, limestone, egg shell; it's all the same as long as the particle size is small enough for chickens to eat it.

 

[debidoesnt]

I believe shell grit is the same/similar to oyster shell (different terminology based on location) but if you could post a photo of a package that would help.

Basically if it's shell fragments or small shells, it's a calcium source.

Yes the shells are quite small. I can't post a photo but it is like the tiny pieces of shell washed up all together on the beach. About the size of a grain of rice.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yes the shells are quite small. I can't post a photo but it is like the tiny pieces of shell washed up all together on the beach. About the size of a grain of rice.

Yeah I haven't seen it in that form in the US, but I guess it's more common in Australia, maybe because that's what is locally available. Either way, shells = calcium.

 

[RcoM]

Yes the shells are quite small. I can't post a photo but it is like the tiny pieces of shell washed up all together on the beach. About the size of a grain of rice.

You may need to find coarse shell grit. The coarse stuff when eaten before bedtime, is absorbed more slowly, giving time for the hen's body to take up the calcium- like slow release. Coarse shell also contains some fine particles and the chickens choose what they need. Just in case your fine grit wasn't enough...