Shells

[Trish1947]

Can I feed my chickens egg shells after dried out? Do they need to be a certain age? Not sure if I am repeating. Thanks

 

[cherrynberry]

Cn I feed my chickens egg shells after dried out? Do they need to be a certain age?

Yes. Place it in a SEPERATE container where it can't get wet. I have it out 24/7. I use Oyster shells, but egg shells are good too. The younger birds do not eat it, so I just leave it out for everyone. I have a pretty mixed flock.

 

[swamphiker]

Yes, you can feed the dried eggshells anytime. Many people crush them before offering them to chickens so that they no longer resemble eggs.

 

[_-Captain BRM-_]

You feed your chickens egg shells to increase protein and to make their egg shells stronger. I would not do it with very little chicks, do it when they begin laying. Put them in the oven at 350 for about 10 minutes and then I mix them in with their food so that they don't see the brown and then break their own. They can't be raw at all or the chickens may eat their own eggs.

 

[cherrynberry]

You feed your chickens egg shells to increase protein and to make their egg shells stronger. I would not do it with very little chicks, do it when they begin laying. Put them in the oven at 350 for about 10 minutes and then I mix them in with their food so that they don't see the brown and then break their own. They can't be raw at all or the chickens may eat their own eggs.

Do not mix it with their feed. Chickens know when to and not to get it. Chicks also need calcium, just much less.

I also do not agree with the raw eggs part. I give raw eggs to sick birds from time to time. NEVER had an egg eating problem. I do not recommend just tossing an egg on the ground though, but I do syringe feed raw eggs. Egg shells are for calcium. Protein should be in their feed already.

 

[_-Captain BRM-_]

Do not mix it with their feed. Chickens know when to and not to get it. Chicks also need calcium, just much less.

I also do not agree with the raw eggs part. I give raw eggs to sick birds from time to time. NEVER had an egg eating problem. I do not recommend just tossing an egg on the ground though, but I do syringe feed raw eggs. Egg shells are for calcium. Protein should be in their feed already.

Egg eating happens to a lot of people. I'm better safe than sorry is how I view it. Why would you not mix it in with their food?

 

[Trish1947]

Yes. Place it in a SEPERATE container where it can't get wet. I have it out 24/7. I use Oyster shells, but egg shells are good too. The younger birds do not eat it, so I just leave it out for everyone. I have a pretty mixed flock.

Thanks so much. I have a 5 gallon bucket full I dried for my garden but then never used it. I will crush up and give them some

 

[cherrynberry]

Egg eating happens to a lot of people. I'm better safe than sorry is how I view it. Why would you not mix it in with their food?

It is because you do not know what they need, chickens do. And if you have it in a seperate container, the males and chicks can filter out what they do not need. There are some other reasons, but that should be a good enough reason.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Why would you not mix it in with their food?

Eggshells are calcium. Excess calcium over a prolonged period of time increases the chance of kidney (or liver, I forget) failure. So best to let the chickens themselves decide how much or little they need to maintain a good quality eggshell when laying.