Should I still add oyster shells with a gravel driveway?

[chickschool]

I've never given my girls OS and they lay the most beautiful eggs and are as healthy as a "horse". However, I'm no expert and might just be lucky.

 

[BlazeJester]

Purina and comparable layer feeds contain plenty of calcium. It's not necessary for hens that get this balanced diet from their feed. I read somewhere that hens that get >10% of their food from free ranging or scratch feed, it's good to give calcium supplement (eggshells, oyster grit) because they're not eating as much of the balanced layer feed.

Of course, grains of salt for the "I heard somewhere"

 

[Abirdbrain]

Ah! Chickens will feed themselves totally, if given enough free range. The layer pellets are what cheep and lazy farmers give chickens, so the rich diet supports more eggs. There is very little calcium in free range, and other than bits of stone or cast off shell, chickens can become deficient, and lay snake eggs with no shell, or slow down and lay thins, that can break at a touch. By super charging the diet, you remove these problems.

I dont feed shells back, it is said come chickens will then raid and break the nest eggs, once they get the taste for cannibulism, it is hard to break. I monitor the shells , and only have one cage that gets extra oyster shell with the feed. I have found that the girls like the shell too much and overeat it, so I limit it somewhat. Thin shells from one pen respond in just a day or so with better shell, always on layer feed.

Remember, healthy , well fed, will produce the most eggs. Anything that disturbs their world will disturb production.

 

[Alabama ee]

I have never fed the oyster shells. I let them free range, and feed them a good layer feed that has calcium. All of their egg shells are nice and hard. Actually, some are HARD to crack open. I do feed their egg shells back to them. I crunch them up and put scraps from the kitchen in. They think they are getting a wonderful treat.

 

[P-Funk]

Thanks, all. I just feel wierd about feeding the girls their own shells. I should have mentioned the enclosed drive features what used to be 8 gardens

They get treats every day like veggies, oatmeal, cornbread, seeds ...... My neighbor wonders why he gets 'snake eggs' but his poor girls never get to go out. I haven't noticed a difference since the addition of oyster shells, but my beloved girls aren't guinea pigs. (not sure if that's how to spell guinea pigs)