When should I begin to give oyster shell?

[chickchick]

My chickens are 5 1/2 months old, have not begun to lay yet but do demonstrate some laying like behaviour...should I go ahead and start giving them some oyster shell now, or wait untill I see that first egg?

 

[Tuffoldhen]

That's up to you.....I have my oyster feed out in a dish 24/7 for my hens to pick at free choice....you can wait til they lay the first few eggs or keep it out now if they are at point of lay...
Lots of folks will chime in as what works best for them.....

 

[1acrefarm]

I would not rush out to get it today but I don't think a seperate dish with free choice oyster shell would hurt them at all. They will know when they need it.

 

[Dawn419]

I made sure to have Oyster Shell on hand, when ours turned 18 weeks old (I'm a big-time "just-in-caser"). Got our 1st egg at 19 and a half weeks so when I found the egg, I put the Oyster Shell out for the girls so they could get it whenever they need it.

Here's a pic of one of the gallon jugs I use to keep the Oyster Shell available for the girls 24/7.

Dawn