Oyster Shell

[Godsgrl]

I bought a 50 lb bag of Dumor Layer Feed yesterday at Tractor Supply. On the bag, it says the hens do not need oyster shell if the food is fed properly. Of course, it didn't say how to do that, or the ingredients. They are free fed, mash kept before them always. Snacks on the side. Do they still need oyster shell? Only Big Momma is laying now, but the others are old enough to, I think.

On that note, after being told they didn't have oyster shell, I found a bag of "chick grit", with the first ing. oyster shell. It said it is for chicks up to 10 weeks. It had 10% calcium. If my hens still need the oyster shell, would that suffice? Thanks so much for the input!!

 

[Dawn419]

We are feeding Dumor layer also. As a" just-in-case", I keep grit and oyster shell available for the girls. You can also bake left over egg shells, crush them up beyond recognition and feed them back to the girls for extra calcium. Skip calls me a professional worry-wart.

Hope this is some help!

Dawn

 

[SandraChick]

I like the just in case methodology also.

It's a VERY CHEAP safety net. The great thing about chickens is they know when they need it.

I free range and my girls eat very little feed, but they'll go months without touching the oyster shell and then all of a sudden hit it hard (usually around the time there's a drop in the bug population).

My main theory is that -- just like people-- chickens may individually need more or less calcium based on how well their bodies assimilate it. I'd presonally spend the <$5 for the safety net. Besides, oyster shell doesn't "go bad".

Thats my 2cents
Sandra

 

[Scrambled Egg]

I ordered oyster shell from Myershatchery yesterday (good price, no shipping charges) so I will probably scatter that on the ground like the scratch and see if they eat it, if not, no big deal - I can use it in my garden next year to prevent end rot on my tomatoes. My girls are not laying yet but they are eating Layena feed and it has boosted levels of calcium anyway so all should be well either way.

 

[Barnyard Dawg]

We scatter oyster shell not far from the pen so that it is available, when I go to the feed store I always add a little grain to it so when I add it to the pile they have a little treat with it.

 

[Godsgrl]

Thanks for all the replies, I will go ahead and add some oyster shell, just in case. I appreciate all the replies.