Thin shells

[wenracr]

I have a couple hens who have thin shells, but have had no luck whatsoever of getting them to eat oyster shells. I have somewhat better luck with feeding them their crushed egg shells, but I don’t always have an abundance of that calcium source and they tend to waste the majority...
With all that being said, has anyone ever boiled ground oyster and put that “ calcium tea” in the chickens’ waterer? I’m completely out of options for added calcium for my girls; this is my last ditch effort...

 

[Perris]

try natural yogurt; if they like it (and I don't know a chicken who doesn't) you could drop some oyster shell in there as well. An even better source is canned sardines. Or ground mustard seed. Or haricot beans (soaked and cooked). Good luck!

 

[LizzzyJo]

Free ranging generally fixes the problem in this weather. Lots of tasty bugs to nom on that balance out the calcium. At least that’s what I’ve experienced with the difference between winter eggs and spring eggs.

 

[wenracr]

try natural yogurt; if they like it (and I don't know a chicken who doesn't) you could drop some oyster shell in there as well. An even better source is canned sardines. Or ground mustard seed. Or haricot beans (soaked and cooked). Good luck!

Thanks a million for the ideas.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Instead of putting the oyster shell powder in the water, mix it into wet/fermented feed - it sticks to everything, so the chickens have to eat it along with everything else.

Optimally you'd separate out the birds that need it, and feed only those ones the calcium enriched feed.

 

[RoosterML]

What is the feed your using? If I am guessing your a probably not using a layer feed. Use layer feed as you should be. I mix 66% layer and 33% starter. That solved shell issues. High production hens such as leghorns and production red suffer shell quality on nonlayer feed.

 

[wenracr]

Instead of putting the oyster shell powder in the water, mix it into wet/fermented feed - it sticks to everything, so the chickens have to eat it along with everything else.

Optimally you'd separate out the birds that need it, and feed only those ones the calcium enriched feed.

Thank you for the ideas. I'll give fermentation a try. Unfortunately, I don't know which girl it is who's laying the thin shells considering the amount chickens I have. I'm ashamed to admit that I'm a victim of chicken math.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thank you for the ideas. I'll give fermentation a try. Unfortunately, I don't know which girl it is who's laying the thin shells considering the amount chickens I have. I'm ashamed to admit that I'm a victim of chicken math.

I suppose you could try treating all of them (don't use large amounts of calcium, just a light dusting of oyster shell powder should do) and do it maybe twice a week for a few weeks. If it works you should see improvement in a week or two.