Processing Egg Shells for Feeding as a calcium source

[luvmygirlsinAK]

Quote:
Well, a hundred years ago in the cold weather climates with snow on the ground for numerous months of the year, they wouldn't be free ranging for all those months-in fact, I'm wondering if they didn't tuck them into bed with them at night for warmth-hah! Sounds good right about now with the _45 F. we've had for the last 2 weeks, or so!!

Seriously, that would leave out a good many places that have snow on the ground- which, in our case can be, but thankfully not always, as many as 9 months out of the year.

So I'm sure there must have been some kind of supplemental calcium going on around here!!!

It's hard to "sweat the small stuff" when the small stuff is tiny, white, cold and fluffy!!!

In fact, not too much sweating going on up here in the interior of Alaska, at the moment for us!!!

 

[Maryallison77]

I mircowave mine for 1 minute on a paper towel, let cool then just crush it paper towel. It is kinda fun to crunch it up--haha

Don't have to much fun or you'll rip the paper towel.

 

[E-Chick]

I just found this thread.

I was told by a friend of mine that his granny would save all of the shells and bake them to feed back to the hens.

I've only had chickens for a little over a week now, so, I took his advice. I haven't heard this one mentioned, but I just put the eggs (as I've used them), onto a piece of aluminum foil and into the toaster oven. Hit the dark toast setting, and then crushed. Not a problem or hassle.

But, to save energy (even though I'm on solar - there still is a need to conserve battery power), I think I'll just do what others have done... NO bake method!

Easy--peasy!

BYC website + people + combined knowledge =

Thanks guys!

 

[catwalk]

Great thread! Lots of info! I would like to supplement my chickens' calcium as well, but I don't have any eggshells to crush up. Most are too young to lay, and one recently laid her only egg in two years! I live alone and don't eat many eggs; it's a lot more work than cereal. I do, though, have relatives that canoe down Ohio's rivers often, and I have a potentially unlimeted supply of clam shells. Is there something magical about oyster shells, or can I just pulverize a bag of clams?

 

[lotzahenz]

I don't know much about clam shells, sounds perfect if you can crush them up pretty easy. I use my old egg shells. I keep a gallon bag in the freezer and when it gets full, spread on a cookie sheet, bake at 300 deg. for 30 minutes and let cool. I then put in a bucket or bowl and use the two handed method and crush, crush, crush. It is kinda cool to do. My DD loves to help. We crush them very tiny for the wild birds to add to their suet and just so so for the chickens. If I have old eggs, I fry them up in a huge skillet and feed them back to the hens and chicks. They love this treat, and I get a good use for old eggs. I mix in the cooked shells with the "omelet".

Edited: for spelling, I blame all my spelling errors on my cocketiel Fred.

 

[catwalk]

When you type, Fred thinks you're trying to pet him, doesn't he? I have a cat, Charm, who thinks I'm wiggling my fingers just for her!

 

[yfchoice]

Catwalk....ask your neighbors if they would save their eggshells for you. Mine do......but of course they're getting back some eggs too.

 

[catwalk]

Good idea. I have relatives who live on a chicken farm, and they save all the eggs that the chickens "botch up" to give away. My grandmother takes a lot of them for cakes and noodles. I don't know why I didn't think of asking for help before; I have access to the motherlode! Thanks

 

[rschunk]

This has been a most interesting 5 pages...

I was going to ask about grit and found the answer here. I have a 1/2 bag of 'grit' leftover from ballasting my Garden Railway trackage and will provide it to the chicks in the little chick feeder I bought when I first got the chicks. It should work fine since I'm now using the 'pipe feeder' arrangement.

I looked on the grit bag and it had recommendations for all sizes of birds.

I was also going to ask about feeding egg shells and found the answer here as well....

You folks ROCK!!!!!

 

[kathyinmo]

I have never in my life heard of baking or microwaving egg shells for chooks. For what reason? This is so bizarre to me! Maybe I am just too old to see any logic in this.