Oyster Shell vs Shell Grit

[debidoesnt]

Hi. I am new to the forum so I am counting on the Brains Trust to help me out. I am having trouble finding Oyster Shell in the top end of Australia and have a hen with soft egg shells. Will shell grit serve the same purpose of supplying calcium as oyster shell? If not, if the oyster shell flour from a gardening supply place safe for the hens and will they eat it? I have been giving them cuttle fish shell but am unsure if this will help either.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I believe shell grit is the same/similar to oyster shell (different terminology based on location) but if you could post a photo of a package that would help.

Basically if it's shell fragments or small shells, it's a calcium source.

 

[raingarden]

Calcium carbonate is calcium carbonate. Seashell, limestone, egg shell; it's all the same as long as the particle size is small enough for chickens to eat it.

 

[debidoesnt]

I believe shell grit is the same/similar to oyster shell (different terminology based on location) but if you could post a photo of a package that would help.

Basically if it's shell fragments or small shells, it's a calcium source.

Yes the shells are quite small. I can't post a photo but it is like the tiny pieces of shell washed up all together on the beach. About the size of a grain of rice.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yes the shells are quite small. I can't post a photo but it is like the tiny pieces of shell washed up all together on the beach. About the size of a grain of rice.

Yeah I haven't seen it in that form in the US, but I guess it's more common in Australia, maybe because that's what is locally available. Either way, shells = calcium.