When to start giving chickens crushed egg shells?

[Ann With A Plan]

Hi,

How early do you start feeding the chickens crushed egg shells?

Thanks,
Ann

 

[Percheron chick]

When they start to lay. You can put it in the run or compost pile now but they typically done touch it until they need it.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

I put it out when they look like they are getting ready to lay. They don’t normally eat it unless they need it.

 

[Ann With A Plan]

Thanks. I tried some last week in a tray and they ate it all up. They're about 7 weeks old now. The last 4 are about 6 weeks old.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thanks. I tried some last week in a tray and they ate it all up. They're about 7 weeks old now. The last 4 are about 6 weeks old.

Woah way too early. Supplement calcium for layers. Your chickens are nowhere close to laying. Increased calcium can cause kidney damage over time.

 

[Ann With A Plan]

Woah way too early. Supplement calcium for layers. Your chickens are nowhere close to laying. Increased calcium can cause kidney damage over time.

Thanks. Yes, I found that out and didn't give them anymore after that. That's why I posted the question. I'm saving up the egg shells now. So if I don't know WHEN they'll be ready to lay, just wait till AFTER they start laying?

 

[rosemarythyme]

So if I don't know WHEN they'll be ready to lay, just wait till AFTER they start laying?

That's the safest way to go IMO. Like some people like to start feeding layer at 16 or 18 weeks but if your flock happens to start up late, that's a lot of extra weeks of them eating calcium that they don't need.

 

[Ann With A Plan]

Thanks.

That's the safest way to go IMO. Like some people like to start feeding layer at 16 or 18 weeks but if your flock happens to start up late, that's a lot of extra weeks of them eating calcium that they don't need.