Processing Egg Shells for Feeding as a calcium source

[ranchhand]

Quote:
Mine have never been busted breaking an egg, only eating one that got dropped- I have one RIR hen who sometimes lays from the roost- 3 ft. up. Too lazy to get down, I guess!

I usually have a bucket in the kitchen for chicken scraps and just mush the shells with a spoon.

Last Sunday I cooked them a special treat. Had too many older eggs, so I cracked them and put them in the blender, shell and all. Had some wrinkly cranberries, etc, so in it all went! Blended the heck out of it, scrambled the whole mess and made 12 very happy chickens!

DH got scrambled, too, minus the shells and etc.!

 

[Wifezilla]

I put them in an old baking dish and put them in the oven when it is off. The pilot light is enough to dry it over the course of a few days. If I use the oven to cook something, I take them out until I am done baking and put the pan back in the oven after I turn the heat off as it cools.

I throw them in my coffee grinder for a few seconds. It's no trouble at all really.

 

[jvls1942]

I never said that egg shells were their only source of calcium.. I thought that this thread was only about feeding the shells,,,,,,,period.

and as far as you over-achievers are concerned,, I give up.

I do not know where you get your notions from, but if it makes you happy, it tickles me plumb to death..

chickens are pets, and they are food and they are just birds, none of them are sacred..

 

[ranchhand]

 

[HennysMom]

Uhm... jvls....

chillllllllllllllll out

hun - I dont think anyone was attacking you or anything - why so rude?

 

[ChicknJ]

well, everybody has their own "right" way of doing things. It's all good.
My 2 cents , I put my eggshells in a freezer bag in the freezer as I use them, then usually on sunday I make the chooks cornbread with refrigerator left-overs and eggshells crunched up in the batter, Bake, cool and serve....happy chooks

 

[greyhorsewoman]

I think it was reccommended it as a cost saver

There is nothing cost saving about cooking/microwaving your egg shells.

I agree with jvls1942 & cassandra .... a lot of the preparation done by others is not necessary, but if it works for you, go for it. Spending 20 minutes or more preparing egg shells for the chickens just isn't on my radar. I'd throw them in the compost if that was required.

We throw all our kitchen leftovers in a big bowl, hubby crushes it down with his gloved hand and throws it into the chickens every morning.

I've been doing this for YEARS ... no egg eaters. However, remember that feeding egg shells for calcium is not a substitute for GRIT. Even though my chickens have decent ranging, I still throw a handful of grit into the feed every couple of weeks.​

 

[Cassandra]

Quote:
That cracks me up!!

Cassandra (no pun intended)

 

[Sissy]

I too dont fuss I Save all the shells with the other scraps
from the counter scrap saver and toss everyother day.
the gals and guys are loving it..

 

[HennysMom]

I also compost the egg shells too, mix them in with the chicken poop

.. great for the garden in the spring!