What if pullets eat the oyster shell???

[meredithfair]

Hi - I have two older girls (1 year olds, a BO/Myrtle and an EE/Cindi) and two EE pullets who are ~14 weeks. I have everyone on Grower (the bag says to feed Grower until 18 weeks), but lately the older girls have started (occasionally) laying soft shelled eggs. For a few days this week I left out a dish of calcium, but I noticed the pullets keep eating it -- which freaks me out. I read that it can cause kidney damage in the non-layers.

Will it hurt the big girls to occassionally lay soft shelled eggs? I am terrifed of them getting egg bound. Sometimes lately I have seen Cindi sit on the next for over two hours and produce nothing. (I guess she gives up??)

However, I also do not want the pullets to get liver damage! Do I have to worry that at 14 weeks they will eat enough Calcium to hurt themselves?

Thanks,
Meredith

 

[Whittni]

I think they are old enough not to worry about it, the pullets have a crop to grind their food now. Usually that applies to week old chicks that haven't been outside to fill their crops.

 

[Den in Penn]

Which brings the question do they have access to stone grit? I think they substitute the oyster shell for stone if they don't have stone.

 

[mstkseavey]

I was wondering the answers to these questions as well!

 

[meredithfair]

Yes they have available chick grit and regular grit. The pullets still eat the oyster shell.

 

[mstkseavey]

Does DE work the same in the crop as granite? Or is it like oyster shell? Or my guess... Something completely different? And what else is DE good for? Dust baths and what?

 

[jesirose]

I asked the same question earlier I was told it's not a big deal - they might just be checking it out, they might eat a little. At 14 weeks they might even be close to laying soon so don't worry!

 

[mstkseavey]

But what is the purpose for the hens?

 

[jesirose]

I was answering the OP, sorry.

 

[Den in Penn]

Does DE work the same in the crop as granite? Or is it like oyster shell? Or my guess... Something completely different? And what else is DE good for? Dust baths and what?

DE is something different. The particles are to small to be used as grit. And it is a mostly silicon not calcium, not a good calcium supplement. It can be used to help dry things out, a insecticide in grains and feed among other things.