oyster shell

[txredneckmedic]

Well I started feeding my chickens and ducks oyster shell a couple days ago...and ever since I keep having to constantly refill it. Is this normal?

 

[LegHorn-BusHorn]

I am no expert, but I think if they eat it, they need it. Mine basically turned their beaks up to it, I still throw a little down once a week or so. Hope someone else can help you better. You might want to add if they free range or not and other details.

 

[joedie]

I might fill a small bowl every 6 wks or so for 30 birds. HTH

 

[chookchick]

They won't eat the oyster shell unless they need it. They can store calcium in their bones for use, and they might have depleted those stores, it takes about 2 weeks to build up the stores again. If this is the case then you should see a drop off in oyster shell eating in about 2 weeks. I think it is a good idea to have it available at all times, even if they are on layer food (calcium fortified) for this reason. Some just need a little more.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:

 

[edselpdx]

Mine ate tons of it at first, and now just a tiny bit as needed. (They're been laying for about 6 weeks now). I also noticed they were really messy with it, spilling it until I found a container for it that I could wire to the fencing of the run near the food.

 

[txredneckmedic]

Ok...guess Ill keep refilling it. Ive got them on the gamebird feed (mixed flock) so that may be one reason they are going through it so much also.