Source for flaked (not chunked) oyster shell

[Mildly Cranky]

I buy Pacific Pearl flaked oyster shells, 50 pound bag for $23 at a local Wilco store.

I looked for it in your location, CO, and found it at a store called Hatch and Gather in Colorado Springs. It's more expensive than what I pay but still a bargain compared to the typical small bags.

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I'll give them a call and see if it's a flaked product. The brand seems to be flaked or crushed, depending on where they sell it. The store is a couple of hours away from me so I'll make sure before trekking over there. Thank you.

 

[SourRoses]

I wonder why the flakes are so much more expensive. They're 7x more than the regular crushed oyster shell I get...

No bag of rocks I have ever looked at in the store has actually had Oyster Shell in it.
One big-brand label read like this...
Ingredients: Oyster Shell comprised of Coral Calcium and Limestone.

The companies wanted to keep that name recognition when real Oyster products became too expensive for them (due to construction industry using it for concrete).

My chickens FAR prefer actual bona fide Oyster Shell. The rocks would sit in the dispenser for months, whereas I have to refill the flaked Oyster shell every couple weeks.

And if we think about it... No part of an Oysters shell should be rock-like. It's already a flaky substance from the animal adding layers of calcium as they grow.

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

No bag of rocks I have ever looked at in the store has actually had Oyster Shell in it.
One big-brand label read like this...
Ingredients: Oyster Shell comprised of Coral Calcium and Limestone.

The companies wanted to keep that name recognition when real Oyster products became too expensive for them (due to construction industry using it for concrete).

My chickens FAR prefer actual bona fide Oyster Shell. The rocks would sit in the dispenser for months, whereas I have to refill the flaked Oyster shell every couple weeks.

And if we think about it... No part of an Oysters shell should be rock-like. It's already a flaky substance from the animal adding layers of calcium as they grow.

Hmm, that's not true in my experience. Purina's is made of oyster shell. DuMor oyster shell ingredients are oyster shell and calcium carbonate. Those are the most popular brands I see at Tractor Supply. Maybe it's different where you live though.

 

[debid]

No bag of rocks I have ever looked at in the store has actually had Oyster Shell in it.
One big-brand label read like this...
Ingredients: Oyster Shell comprised of Coral Calcium and Limestone.

The companies wanted to keep that name recognition when real Oyster products became too expensive for them (due to construction industry using it for concrete).

My chickens FAR prefer actual bona fide Oyster Shell. The rocks would sit in the dispenser for months, whereas I have to refill the flaked Oyster shell every couple weeks.

And if we think about it... No part of an Oysters shell should be rock-like. It's already a flaky substance from the animal adding layers of calcium as they grow.

Chunks are from cleaned and sterilized, smashed shells. Flaking happens because they cook the shells to make them brittle first so the layers will separate rather than holding together when crushed. That added step increases cost of production and changes the texture of the finished product. It's still oyster shell when the label says oyster shell in the ingredients whether it is lumps or flakes. There are products that are limestone, coral, and other shells and the label discloses these as the composition. Simply seeing lumps doesn't equal "not from an oyster".