so where do you feed oyster shells?

[Anny]

Can you mix oyster shells in with the feed?? Or is that a no no ? What about grit? Do they need both ?

 

[Beekissed]

I've mixed the shell in the feed before, but now I just leave the open bag in the corner of the henhouse. They love feeling like they are stealing feed out of the bag...seems like they are using it more this way.

 

[nccountrygirl]

Oyster shell that is left out to get wet will get as hard as a piece of concrete, try to put it in some protected spot away from the elements.

 

[spatcher]

I sprinkle it in with their feed.

 

[Jenski]

redhead83402, while your girls should have free access to grit at all times, you'll want to hold off on the oyster shell until they are laying. Too much calcium can cause kidney damage in young, non-laying hens.

Leaving a small container of grit out in their pen will probably eliminate the "gorging" behavior.

The scratch grains are just a treat, and the amounts you are talking about sound reasonable.

Hope that helps!


Jen in TN

 

[cmom]

I put granite grit in a shallow dish and oyster shells in another, which are next to their feeder in the coop. They just get what they want.

 

[cmom]

Quote:
Great Idea!

 

[AllChookUp]

It does work really well, and they seem to feed pretty freely out of it. Got the idea from my cousin.

 

[mackenziesmomma]

What a great idea! TFS!

 

[freshegg]

i just put a catfood dish of them in the coop