The thing is to not have it get old and use it up within at least six months from manufacture date (and many people here, myself included say three months, esp in warm weather). You could freeze it in small bags which would help it last. You also have to be able to securely store that much, keeping it dry and unavailable to rodents. I’ve bought chopped hemp from New Country Organics, very good. $$$ with shipping however.
Its "calcium" but it doesn't process into eggshell as well as oyster shell flakes do. Many of the "oystershell" are actually Limestone pellets. At the molecular level, the calcium is bonded with different things. I don't remember exactly what, but my actual shell source disappeared. The Limestone (sold as oystershell) wasn't fixing the fragile shell issues. When I can get actually oyster shell, it does. Meanwhile, I'm getting eggshells from all and sundry which is fixing the issue too.
Scratch n Peck oyster shell ($$$) is in flakes and appears to be actual oyster shell. Manna Pro ($) appears much whiter and looks like chicken grit or tiny gravel. Now I’m having doubts about it!
My birds won't eat the limestone "oyster pellets" unless they have no other choice. Twirp has the toughest time with fragile shells and the stuff does nothing for her. If she has access to oyster flakes or crushed egg shell, she lays eggs with mostly decent shells. The rest don't like the pebbles either.
Congratulations!
Mine don't like those pebbles either - and at TSC they come in such a big bag it will be a lifetime supply (mine, not theirs!).
Hello there, CCL!
