Oyster shells question

[gjoyner]

When do I start giving them oyster shells? They are 14 weeks and are still on starter/grower...I have a RIR and know they lay earlier...do I start giving them some now or wait till I see the first egg?
thanks

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Layer feed has calcium.
Oyster shell is given if they need MORE.

I'd wait until they start laying, and if the shells arent thin, you wont need it

 

[toletiquesbysam]

Wait til you see your 1st egg. I've got 16week olds and that's what I'm doing, waiting til the 1st egg then I'll offer them.

 

[Mahlzeit]

The feed should have enough calcium in it for them to have strong egg shells. I would only give them oyster shells if the egg have weak shells.

 

[toletiquesbysam]

PS-
Do not start them on layer feed yet, from what I've read on here it says to wait until the chickens are 18-19 weeks old before you switch them to layer feed. That's why I suggest once you see the 1st egg to offer the oyster shell.
Hope that helps you!!

 

[gjoyner]

Thanks guys!

 

[purpletree23]

I disagree about waiting to give oyster shell until there is an egg shell problem. I give chicken grit and ground oyster shell free choice. I don't want a chicken to have problems with soft shells and have one break inside her. I guess I'm just proactive instead of reactive. Or paranoid.

Just my opinion.

 

[theDregs]

I believe i read somewhere that oyster shell was usefull as grit, and that it had the benefit of dissolving slowly in the crop, providing calcium. Is this true, or would I need to provide both? Researching chickens is difficult, there are 5 opinions on every subject!

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote:
I've always heard it's NOT all that good as "grit" but free range chickens, or even those who have access to an outdoor run, can usually find enough grit on their own.

People successfully raised chickens for hundreds of years before all the supplements were readily available

 

[cmom]

After they start laying then I would offer them a dish of free choice oyster shells. They will take what they want/need.