Safe to Use Older Eggshells as Supplement?

[Anon112]

I have some (okay, many!) eggs in my fridge that I think are past being good to eat. Is it safe to break them open, compost the insides, and rinse out the eggshells to give to the girls? Do I need to bake them in the oven?

 

[RoyalChick]

Personally I would bake them. But I bake mine anyway because it makes them easier to crush and less sticky.

 

[Anon112]

Personally I would bake them. But I bake mine anyway because it makes them easier to crush and less sticky.

What temperature do you bake them at?

 

[RoyalChick]

What temperature do you bake them at?

Nor scientific about it. If I use the oven for baking or cooking dinner I put the bucket of eggshells in once I turn the oven off.
So I guess the eggshells go in at 350 or 425, depending on what I made to eat, and then cool down from there.

 

[Anon112]

Nor scientific about it. If I use the oven for baking or cooking dinner I put the bucket of eggshells in once I turn the oven off.
So I guess the eggshells go in at 350 or 425, depending on what I made to eat, and then cool down from there.

Got it, thanks!

 

[Sally PB]

If I'm doing just eggshells, I do them at 250 for 15-20 minutes. If I'm baking anything, then I use that temp.

 

[TooCheep]

I've been going 6+ years without baking them. I do let them dry thoroughly before hand-crushing them.

Just be aware that recycled egg shells are an excellent supplement, but can't provide 100% of a layer's calcium needs. Either provide it as a supplement with layer feed or use egg shell + oyster shell + all-flock feed.

Finally, please do not mix the shells in with their feed. Offer it on the side in a separate container. The chickens will self-regulate how much they consume based on their needs.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Yes.

I don't bake either. If I did, I'd follow garden directions. 200 for 20 min. 400 for 10 min, or anywhere in between. (275 for 15. Its a good place).

There is a time/temp relationship for killing most undesirables. Long time at low temp, short time at high temp.

 

[K0k0shka]

Just be aware that recycled egg shells are an excellent supplement, but can't provide 100% of a layer's calcium needs. Either provide it as a supplement with layer feed or use egg shell + oyster shell + all-flock feed.

That's not true. Eggshells can provide all the extra calcium a hen needs, and in fact that's what birds do in nature and that's what farmers did throughout history, before fancy modern feeds were invented. People inland wouldn't have had access to oyster shell before it became widely available as a commercial product in a bag. This very popular warning that shells on their own are not enough comes from the calculation that if you only use your own chickens' shells, over time they'll develop a deficit simply because some calcium is used by the body for other purposes, so what they put out as new shells is a little less than what they took in. BUT, that's if you only feed them their own shells, not if you feed shells in general. If you buy eggs in the winter when the hens slow down or stop, you can save those shells and build up a stash to pull from later. As long as the hens have an unlimited supply of shells, that will be all they need in terms of extra calcium.

I have never used layer feed - I don't like that it forces a set amount of extra calcium on the birds, when their needs vary so much throughout the year and their lives. I have also never used oyster shell. I only feed a flock raiser type of feed (no extra calcium) and only provide crushed eggshell on the side, unlimited supply year round. I save the shells of eggs I buy in the winter, when my hens take a break.

So, when propagating the popular advice that eggshells are not enough, make sure to include the disclaimer - they are not enough ONLY in the long run and ONLY if you use your own chickens' shells exclusively. But if you always have enough shells on hand to give them, whether you supplement with store bought eggs' shells or your neighbors' discarded shells, then they are absolutely enough.

 

[Bawkbok]

I've never baked the shells, not knowing that was the way to do it. I rinse them and then gently boil them for 3-5 minutes, drain, rinse again and let cool. They are perfectly clean and white and crush easily with your fingers.