shells from store bought eggs

[CarolinaKen]

If you are a newby and don't have any egg laying hens and you have chicks that you are raising to be egg layers, can you start to save the egg shells from the eggs you buy in the store so that you have a good supply of egg shells when the time comes for them to need more calcium in their diets? Wasn't sure if a) you needed that much in reserve, and b) if there was any reason to shy away from feeding them store bought egg shells.

Thanks in advance for your assistance!!

 

[AinaWGSD]

It should be fine. I didn't stock pile my egg shells before my girls started laying, but I did throw in the store-bought shells with their shells once they did start laying. I don't know that you need that much in reserve, but it won't hurt if you want to do it.

 

[Opa]

An easier to provide calcium source is crushed oyster shell. Its cheap and I keep it available for them to free feed at all times. Chicken egg shells are more work than I care to do.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
This is what I do, costs me less than $10 a year, but nothing wrong with egg shells if that's what you want to do.

 

[matimeo]

Sounds like a great idea. Wish I had thought of it.

 

[MyKidLuvsGreenEgz]

Cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese and sour cream are also good sources of calcium.