Oyster Shells

[aran]

so guys if one feeds layer pellets are you saying that no oyster shell is needed? or did i read that wrong?

 

[speckledhen]

Most people do feed oyster shell free choice in addition to layer pellets, but if you feed an all purpose feed that does not contain calcium, you definitely should have the shell out for them. They will take what they need. I backed off on the oyster shell, mostly because I kept forgetting to get it for awhile, and I found the shells not as rock hard. Try going without it and see what happens, then if you think you need it, put it back out for them.

 

[aran]

thanks for the info mate...my girls are only 9weekers ( tomorrow!) so a while to wait yet...they are still on the chick starter food.

 

[sillygoose4ever]

ground corn is easier for them to eat... also, does anyone feed their chickens egg shells?

 

[speckledhen]

I save them, bake them to make them easier to crush and feed them back to the girls, however, it takes a lot of shells to equal the same calcium as oyster shell has.

 

[greenacre]

How do you bake egg shells?

 

[speckledhen]

I just spread them on a cookie sheet and put them in the oven at a low temp, maybe 150 degrees even, for about 30 minutes, then I turn off the oven and let them cool down in there. They crush so easily that way. I then put them in a ziplock bag and put them in the freezer till I need them. You don't have to bake them, but I like to do that since it dries out any goopy stuff still on the shells.

 

[greenacre]

Thank you so much for your information. I have read numerous responses with your signature and you sure do have a lot of expertise. I loved the pictures of your coop and run with an address, their own flag, etc. TOO CUTE!

 

[SandraChick]

YOU BAKE THE EGG SHELLS FOR 30 MIN!!!! Don't you get the burned egg smell?

I have a pie tin in my oven at all times. It 's a gas oven with an always lit pilot lite, so most of the time, they dry out just fine and are easilty crushed. Usualy though, they're in there when I preheat the oven, I just leave them there for a 3-5 min and take them out to cool.

I put them in a glass jar and crush them. I either feed some to the girls, or I grind them and put them in the garden. Good for worms as well as helping to defend against blossom end rot in tomatos and squashes (put some in the hole when I plant them and then 1/2 way through the season, I work some more into the top inch of the soil around the base of the plant.

Sandra

 

[chicknsnbiskits]

I've been giving the girls crushed egg shells (don't have oyster shell yet) and I just discovered an egg-eating problem with them... could feeding them egg shell contribute to them eating their eggs?