Thursday, January 28, 2021

  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • Blog Home
  • Shop Murdoch’s
Murdoch's Blog: The Dirt
  • Home
  • How-To
  • Gritty Stories
  • Events
  • Company News
Navigation
Top Soil
  • New StuffTop 10 Cutest Winter Boots of the Season
  • How-To & Education4 of Murdoch’s Favorite Men’s Jeans
  • How-To & EducationBasic Trick Training With Treats
  • How-To & EducationInspecting Your Hive
  • How-To & EducationKeeping Chickens Warm and Laying in the Winter
How-To & Education What’s the deal with feeding hens oyster shell?

What’s the deal with feeding hens oyster shell?

October 31, 2018 |
Posted by Jan Nessett
| How-To & Education | 2251 views |

Reposted from Nutrena’s helpful blog, The Scoop from the Coop. 

The shell of each egg that your hens are laying is made up of nearly 95% calcium carbonate by dry weight. To produce hard eggs, your chicken will be consuming up to 20 times the amount of calcium in one year than the amount of calcium that is contained in her actual bones. As their keeper, it is your responsibility to make sure each chicken is consuming a steady supply of calcium in her diet.

DON’T Feed Egg Shells

There are some chicken owners who swear by reusing eggshells and feeding them back to their flock. Some people may crush these before feeding. Feeding your chickens their eggshells may seem like a convenient way to recycle them, but there are several health risks that will be brought upon them.

  1. Risk of salmonella for hens. Salmonella can be found on the inside and outside of eggs. The kicker? Salmonella can be on eggs that seem to appear completely normal. Feeding your hens eggshells infected with this bacterium can cause this sometimes fatal illness. Some people prevent this by baking their eggshells before feeding, however, that is not always effective and is a time-consuming process.
  2. Risk of salmonella for humans. This is where the “domino effect” comes into play. If a chicken is eating eggshells with salmonella and becomes infected, this affects the eggs they are producing, and any human consumption of those eggs.
  3. Can teach hens to start eating their own eggs. When chickens start to recognize their food as eggshells, this runs the risk of them eating and destroying the eggs they lay.

DO Feed Them Oyster Shells or Limestone

Bag of Nutrena Oyster Shell

Nutrena Oyster Shell available at Murdoch’s stores. Check it out on Murdochs.com.

Though this may seem like a higher investment up front, feeding your laying chickens oyster shells or limestone instead of their own eggshells will pay off in the end. By cutting out serious health risks to your chickens and to those eating the eggs they produce, feeding oyster shells or limestone is a cost effective and safe alternative. In addition, a little bit of these products go a long way. A 50 lb bag of oyster shell or limestone will last the average flock an extended period of time – up to several months for a flock of 6 to 8 birds.

Feeding oyster shells is easy. Simply put the oyster shell or limestone in a separate container and allow birds access free choice. Your girls will take what they need. Just keep in mind that when it comes to calcium supplementation for your flock,  ground limestone or oyster shells are safer options than feeding eggshells back to your girls.

 

Shop Chicken Supplies

Share this with your friends:

  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • More
  • Pocket
  • Share on Tumblr
Tagged :Backyard Chickens, chick feed, chickens, Farming, Ranching
prev Why Beekeeping? There’s More To It Than The Honey
next Requeening Beehives: Everything You Need to Know

Related Posts

Product Review: Noble Outfitters Wave Fork

Product Review: Noble Outfitters Wave Fork

July 14, 2015

Eye on Agriculture Series: Paula Bentle Earns Distinct Junior Rancher Award

Eye on Agriculture Series: Paula Bentle Earns Distinct Junior Rancher Award

March 22, 2016

9 Reasons to Raise Chickens

February 5, 2019

Comment on Facebook

The Dirt is Published by Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply

Advertisment

Filter By

Ag Supplies Ariat Backyard Chickens Bees Boots Carhartt chainsaw chaps chicken coop chickens chick feed Christmas cowboy hat Customers dogs employment equine Farming Fashion Feed Fencing Gardening Gifts Goats Honda Husqvarna Jeans Kids' clothing Men's clothing Power Equipment Ranching Reviews Rodeo safety equipment Silverthorne sporting goods Stihl team members tools Toys Westminster Wild Birds Women's clothing Wrangler Wyoming

Most Popular Posts

  • Get Your Cowboy Hat in Shape

    Get Your Cowboy Hat in Shape

    June 3, 2015 | 38065 views |
  • How Much Do Carhartt Pants Shrink?

    How Much Do Carhartt Pants Shrink?

    September 22, 2015 | 36778 views |
  • Can I Tuck My Jeans into My Boots?

    Can I Tuck My Jeans into My Boots?

    August 20, 2015 | 32819 views |
  • How to Winterize a Beehive

    How to Winterize a Beehive

    September 16, 2016 | 26769 views |
  • Warmest Carhartt Coat – A Guide For Men Who Don’t Want to Shop

    Warmest Carhartt Coat – A Guide For Men Who Don’t Want to Shop

    September 29, 2015 | 24065 views |

Like the Dirt!

Like the Dirt!

Subscribe to Blog Via Email

Old Dirt

  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • January 2018
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • January 2017
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015

The Dirt Published by Murdoch’s

murdochs logo

Copyright 2018 · Murdoch's Ranch & Home Supply

  • /Blog Home
  • /Shop Murdoch’s
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.