oyster shell

[Teresa D]

I just made oyster stew with fresh oysters. Can I give the chickens the shells to peck at without sterilizing them or processing them. My girls are 20 weeks old and have not started laying yet but I know when they do I need to give them oyster shell as a source of calcium.

 

[RRM]

Pecking at half shells isn’t going to give them any calcium as they can’t eat the half shells. Oyster shell supplement is ground up in rather fine pieces so they can eat it.

 

[Teresa D]

Pecking at half shells isn’t going to give them any calcium as they can’t eat the half shells. Oyster shell supplement is ground up in rather fine pieces so they can eat it.

Thanks

 

[rosemarythyme]

I would rinse them first just to get rid of any surface contaminants including salt. Then if you can smash it up with a hammer into smaller flakes, then that's free oyster shell for you.

 

[Teresa D]

I would rinse them first just to get rid of any surface contaminants including salt. Then if you can smash it up with a hammer into smaller flakes, then that's free oyster shell for you.

Thank you

 

[Ryguy3684]

I would rinse them first just to get rid of any surface contaminants including salt. Then if you can smash it up with a hammer into smaller flakes, then that's free oyster shell for you.

We eat clams and oysters often that we catch at the beach. I'm an idiot for never thinking of crushing up the shells to use for my hens. I'm glad they won't go to waste now. Thanks.