Too much calcium?

[alfresco]

In addition to layer mix we put crushed oyster shell out as calcium supplement. The chooks eat it like its candy. Their eggs are well formed with hard shells. How likely is it that layers would eat too much calcium, and if so what problems would it cause?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They will usually only eat what they need, I'm assuming you also offer them grit so they aren't trying to use it that way, mine consume very little of the oyster shells but mine are free ranging so I suppose they get calcium from plants as well.

 

[alfresco]

They are free range also. I also feed fresh vegetables, berries and melons and they especially like kale and mustard greens which are high calcium. I'm just getting concerned over the amount of oyster shell. But if you think it's not a problem, I'll continue filling the calcium bowls. Thanks

 

[pdirt]

They are free range also. I also feed fresh vegetables, berries and melons and they especially like kale and mustard greens which are high calcium. I'm just getting concerned over the amount of oyster shell. But if you think it's not a problem, I'll continue filling the calcium bowls. Thanks

Not sure how old your chickens are, but when ours were younger, they really chowed down on the oyster shell, even on the occasion they were also being fed layer feed (we usually feed them grower, which has less calcium). They don't eat as much of the oyster shell now as they used to (same grower feed). My only guess is their systems built up a reserve of calcium or something. As long as you are not mixing the oyster shell in with the layer feed, I'd say you're good to go.