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Last update on July 29 , 2023
Oh , to be a position hen and regularly raise eggs … It is a natural but passably deadening thing ! Some chickens lay eggs day by day , some once per week or less , and some in between . Did you know that shell are made up of almost pure calcium ? Yup , they surely are – nearly 100 % Ca carbonate crystals !
The biological appendage of make and lay an egg slightly deplete the hen of her calcium reserves . Without a way to fill again the calcium used , serious and even life - threatening precondition may result!For example , if a hen is not provided passable gratis - choice calcium in her dieting , and thus can not right spring eggshells , she may lay soft - shell eggs , become perilously egg - bound , or even have an egg break inside of her . Those shivery scenarios merit a post of their own ( which I plan to indite presently ! ) but for now , get ’s focus onproactive bar .
There are a duet of ways you may cater atomic number 20 to your laying chickens to keep them as healthy as potential . Two pop choice are to course chickens shell and/or oyster shells . Let ’s discourse those option , along with somebest practicesand thing to avoid .
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Should I offer chickens crushed eggshells or oyster shells?
Wait … Back up . I can feed my chickens eggshells?Isn’t that like , cannibalism or something ? No ! It surely is not . It ’s actually very common for chicken keeper to feed crush eggshell back to their chickens . what is more , chickens are known to eat on their own eggs and shells out in nature too . We wish to mostlyoffer our girls eggshell – and that is what they happen to prefer as well ! I ’ll explain why as we go .
Crushed orflaked oyster shellsare also useable to bribe , specifically for this purpose . When we first part raising chickens , we corrupt a travelling bag of huitre shells for our girls . infer what?They would n’t meet them . Apparently , thelarge severely rocksof huitre shells for calcium were all unappetizing to them . On the other manus , they absolutely love to gobble down crushed eggshells ! I have learn similar stories from many volaille - lady ( or man ) friend .
To choose oyster shells or egg shells as a calcium supplement is a personal determination – but one that your chickens may help resolve for you !
Cost and Supply
Here is the deal : Eggshells are free!Why not make in force use of a “ waste ” product , and not need to pass any money doing so ? They seem to be what many chickens prefer to eat anyway . It go like a no - brainer , right?However , there is definitely a time and place where using oyster shells instead can come in handy .
One such instance when having oyster shells on hand may be necessary iswhen you ’re running short on eggshell . Say you ’re sell egg , or regularly pass away dozens to Quaker . In that case , you belike will not have enough free scale left to supply your raft enough Ca . orchis - set chickens can not go more than a few days without that extra calcium source , so you will need to supplement ! ( Unless you ask your Friend to keep the shells and return them to you , which we have altogether done . )
Thankfully , we recently found a thinner , flaky , tasty oyster shell than those old “ oyster rocks ” that our young lady dislike so much in the past times – one that they will actually eat!Now , we mixthese huitre shellswith their eggshells to bolster our supply when postulate . Even when we are n’t “ curt ” , we add a little huitre shell with their eggshellson social occasion , simply to keep them wonted to eating them .
How & When to Provide Chickens Calcium
Whether you ’re providing supplementary atomic number 20 via eggshells , oyster shell , or both , there are a few crucial health retainer you need to get it on about !
Age
First things first . Gallus gallus should not be provided additional calcium until they ’ve “ come into lay ” – that is , have begun to lay eggs , or are damn near quick to . Introducing supernumerary calcium prematurely can actually harm young chickens and induce kidney terms . We generally put out eggshells after one of our young chickens begins to lay , even if the others that are the same historic period have n’t get down yet . You could also begin to offer Ca just before they start to lay . Find outwhen do chickens start laying eggs here , include 5 preindication to watch for !
As they mature , chickens need slightly less protein and a piece more Ca . If you pay aid to their labels , you ’ll see this reflected in the content of their various stage of feed : chick or “ starter ” , grower , and layer feeds . Their food is formulated and adjust accordingly . Thus , laying biddy should always be fed a “ bed ” provender . If you are curious , we fertilize our chickensthis constitutive layer feed by Scratch and Peck .
Let me decide!
Second , your deal supplementalcalcium source should always be offered as “ devoid choice ” . This means that it should NOT be mixed into their solid food or hidden in treats . Put the crushed eggshells or oyster shell in a freestanding dish , and keep it stocked and available at all time .
As shown below , we provide shells in asmall hanging dishthat easily attach to fencing material – with one in the yard , and one in their run . They graze on it as they please . Listening to their bodies , poulet somehow know when they are in penury or not ! Mixing an extra Ca root into their feed sort of tricks them into eating it , and can lead to “ o.d. ” and wellness issues similar to if they take too much too vernal .
How to Prepare Eggshells for Chickens
snap an egg , electrocute it up , and toss the eggshell out in the yard for the birds … right?Not quite ! Some kinsfolk may do it that way , but we prefer to take a couple extra ( but easy ! ) steps before give the shells to our chicken . How you prefer to prepare your eggshells is ultimately up to you , but allow me share how we do it .
Before feeding them back to the chickens , we opt tobake and jam their eggshellsfirst .
Why bake the shell first?Because bake the casing makes them safer for the chickens , bykilling any possible bacterialurking on them with heat . This is especially important if they were sitting around for a while after being cracked undecided .
Drying the shells in the oven also dries out the tissue layer , and make the shellsmucheasier to crush . Finally , it alsochanges the odor and flavorof the eggs . By doing so , it reduces the likelihood of your poulet associating the shells with the eggs that they lay – and developing a taste for them ! It render them distinct and unrecognisable as egg . orchis - feeding is an obnoxious and unmanageable habit to break once they start!Trust me … Ugh . Read more about how to prevent and block off egg - eating here .
Baking, crushing, & storing eggshells
As we use eggs , wesave up the shellsin a container in the back of the electric refrigerator . continue them refrigerated reduces bacterial growth , so we do n’t get at rinsing them after cracking before computer memory . Then every month or two , we prepare a prominent batch . await to bake many at once makes it much less of a hassle or frequent chore !
circulate the shells on a cookie sheet or bake pan . They can get a petty stuck and difficult to clean , so we use a cheap pan from a thrift memory , dedicated for eggshells . Bake the shells on 300’F for 5 to 10 minutes . We generally do around 5 arcminute if they ’re already on the juiceless side , or for a modest pot , and a bit longer for a large amount or when they ’re still quite stiff . Remove from the oven , and allow to cool .
Next , vanquish the shellsto a consistence of your hen liking . Some folks grind them up very small , almost into a powder . We ’ve retrieve our girls like to peck at slightly larger pieces , about the size of raw oatmeal flake .
To physically crush the shells , notice whatever method works for you . It could be done right on the pan , in a jarful , bowl , coffee poor boy , food processor … Scheol , some people even apply a mortar and stamp ! We typically bemuse all the parched shells in a designated , re - used , large ziplock udder and then crush the contents with arolling pinor our hands . A zero - waste matter , charge card - free option is to do the same in an one-time pillow casing or cloth udder – which is what I plan to try next batch !
last , we stash away the crushed eggshells in jar in the fridge . As needed , wereplenish their little bag outdoors – so that they ’re never without .
It is as simple as that.
Is n’t it crazy to think that such a lowly act plays such asignificantrole in keep on your chicken intelligent ? Providing a little calcium can save their lives!Literally .
If you ’re reading this , I adopt that you have ( or will soon have ) chickens . But if you do n’t , you could still salve your eggshell ! break down and add them to your compost pile , worm bin , or straight into yourgardensoil as a natural amendment . The special Ca is prize there too !
I hope you found this post helpful ! If you ’re interested inmore chicken - related articles , you may revel :
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