Oyster shells and shell less eggs

[Roan]

Wow, umm, I usually fry up any eggs that we don't use/sell after a month (with the shells crushed in them) and feed them back to the birds for their own benefit. I had gotten the odd soft shell from time to time but since I've been doing this, I haven't had any, plus it's better than wasting the eggs.

All of those nutrients (if just thrown out) will go to rodents and other pests somewhere at some point and I'd rather they serve a beneficial purpose instead.

 

[aart]

Plenty of folks toss uncrushed shells and even whole eggs(tossed hard enough to break) in the run without them turning into egg eaters. I have had them eat soft and thin shelled eggs that were stepped on off the floor, board or nest and don't have any egg eating problems. If it's broken, it's fair game.

I rinse, dry and crush the shells from the kitchen, mix them with oyster shells, always available in a separate container for the layers. Just makes sense to use them, recycling at it's best!

Mine love cooked or raw chicken and any other meat scraps from the kitchen or the abattoir.
Animal protein is good for them, they are omnivores, and it's not in most formulated poultry chows.

 

[the43k]

Put oyster shells in a separate contianer for them to eat. It helps harden the eggshells.

Why separate? I just put in with food, or throw on ground…. Is there any advantage to separate?

 

[aart]

Quote: So the layers can take what they need, only when they need it.
Birds that are not laying shouldn't eat it, so it shouldn't be mixed with the feed.