Question about oyster shell smell....

[Lainey-chick]

I got my first bag of oyster shell ever, so I have no idea what it’s supposed to smell like. I have a highly sensitive nose and can detect scents that most cannot. Every time I open the bag it vaguely smells like moth balls, not strong, but just a hint of a chemical odor. I didn’t think much of it at first and my hens have been eating it without issues. I just smelled it again and it made me wonder if that’s the normal smell?? Anyone else care to smell theirs and get back to me? It just seems like such an odd smell to me.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I have a fairly sensitive nose too (I'm the "family snifter" to sniff test anything someone questions in the house).

It shouldn't smell strong, but oyster shell does have an oystery smell to it...a bit fishy.

Does the package state if it has been treated?

It is probably okay as long as it doesn't smell very strong, and it hasn't had an added chemical.

My thoughts.
LofMc

 

[Lainey-chick]

I have a fairly sensitive nose too (I'm the "family snifter" to sniff test anything someone questions in the house).

It shouldn't smell strong, but oyster shell does have an oystery smell to it...a bit fishy.

Does the package state if it has been treated?

It is probably okay as long as it doesn't smell very strong, and it hasn't had an added chemical.

My thoughts.
LofMc

My family relies on my sniffer, too! LOL

Thanks for replying to my odd post! I just sniffed it again. It’s the DuMor brand and it says it was “heat treated” containing oyster shell and coral calcium. I didn’t see anywhere that chemicals were added. It doesn’t smell fishy to me. It just smells faintly of moth balls or maybe it’s a chlorine smell. Maybe they used chlorine water to clean it?

 

[Ridgerunner]

When oyster shell or coral are harvested, they are often in a marine environment. They may have some salt residue or microbes growing on them. I imagine they rinse them off to get rid of most of the "contamination" including dirt, sand, salt, and a lot of the microbes growing on them before they are crushed. The heat treatment is to dry them and to kill any microbes that might be left. My crushed oyster shell doesn't smell but I don't have that sensitive a nose. I could see a slight lingering smell, especially if it gets wet.

For those wondering, the oyster shell and coral that is mined is already dead, often have been for a lot of years. No living coral or living oyster beds are damaged by this process. Most of these beds that are mined are on land. Dredging for these in water is often limited as that process could harm water quality. The authorities are usually pretty careful on water quality. When they stopped dredging for oyster shell in Lake Pontchartrain the water quality improved dramatically.