What did they do for calcium in the old days?

[MadChickensVT]

My goal is to have my chickens be self-sustaining at least in the warmer months. They can find plenty to eat around my place, but this spring I quickly discovered they need supplemental calcium or they stop laying. Yes, I could stockpile bags of calcium chips, but that's not my goal.

What did they do in the old days for calcium?

 

[cmedeiros17]

This is a great question! I've wondered this myself...............curious to see people's answers.

 

[Odii]

Egg shells?
Sent from my SGH-i667 using Board Express

 

[Chris09]

Depends on what mean by "old days".

Oyster shells, and Lime was the most common.

On a side note;
The chickens we have to day are nothing like they had in the old days (before poultry feed). Most of today's chickens would be walking skeletons and lay very little eggs if they had to survive solely on free ranging.

Chris

 

[Pullet Surprise]

Save up your egg shells, crush them and feed back to your hens.

 

[cmedeiros17]

Save up your egg shells, crush them and feed back to your hens.

I do this as well.

My thinking of "old days" is before electricity and modern day conveniences.

 

[galanie]

Like Chris09 said, they fed the shells back to them and gave them lime. BUT, not the kind that burns of course!

 

[Nambroth]

I think a very important question is what breed(s) of chickens do you have, and where did they come from? Climate and types of forage can make a difference, too. Many modern chickens probably could not thrive and lay eggs for us if raised in the "old ways".

Feeding back the shells is a great step, but might not be enough if you want regular, healthy egg production. Again, it depends on many factors.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

If you aren't giving them any feed make sure they still have a source of good protein also.

 

[Ashburnham]

In Australia we feed them shell grit- crushed sea shells.