Adding calcium when they won’t touch oyster shells

[Bigfishbobby]

Our flock age range is a little over a year old to one that should start laying any day now. We have noticed that one of our silkies will lay a completely shell-less egg or a soft one about once a week. Until today she was the only one that ever did. Today I had one of my recently new layers lay a thin shelled egg.

My question is this…we have always had oyster shell available and I have never had to refill it in over a year now. That tells me that nobody eats it. What would be a good way to introduce a little extra calcium that they will actually eat and like? I have sparingly offered crushed egg shell in the past. We currently feed Nutrena Egg Layer feed with 22% protein.

Any ideas are appreciated.

 

[townchicks]

You can offer calcium rich food like yogurt, some greens like spinach have good amounts of calcium, maybe once a week for a treat. You can also crush calcium citrate with vitamin D tablets and mix it with their regular food that has been moistened. You can also just shove the tablets directly in their mouths. They are large, but they can swallow them, trust me. Also maybe try scattering the oyster shell around on the ground, they may find it more interesting.

 

[FrostRanger]

You can try flake oyster shell, some birds prefer that over crushed

However, given they are eating layer feed they may be getting enough from their feed hence why they aren't eating the oyster shell.
The hen I am thinking she might have something else going on with her, as for the pullet new layers often lay wonky eggs when they're just getting started. I wouldn't let that worry you yet

 

[Mountain Roost]

One of my geese does better on people calcium citrate. I can give her all the oyster shell I want mixed in their feed and she would still have problems. But giving 'goosium' every third feeding or so during egg laying season seems to do the trick. I mix about a tablespoon into her ration of wet mash.

Here is the calcium citrate I use:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006ZF9NC

 

[rosemarythyme]

I would supplement the one older bird that's known to have a thin shell with calcium citrate (you can probably split the pill in half if it looks too large), since it's not a regular issue maybe 2-3x a week should be fine. Sounds like the rest of the flock is doing fine, the new layer with the thin egg, I'd count that as a new layer glitch unless it becomes a regular thing.

Not sure what type of oyster shell you're offering but flaked 100% shell is usually preferred over the nugget shaped ones (which are crushed shell or limestone formed into little rocks). Or crushed eggshell is even more popular, though it doesn't provide as much calcium... I save my eggshells, bake them, crush them, and mix them with the flaked oyster shell so they have both options.

 

[Bigfishbobby]

@rosemarythyme where do you find the flaked? I have crushed as you described and they have no interest. I’m thinking I could mix the flaked shell in with their fermented feed and they would inhale it.

 

[FrostRanger]

@rosemarythyme where do you find the flaked? I have crushed as you described and they have no interest. I’m thinking I could mix the flaked shell in with their fermented feed and they would inhale it.

Chewy sells it
https://www.chewy.com/small-pet-select-100-flaked-oyster/dp/1045222

 

[Bigfishbobby]

Ah. I was hoping you were getting it from a local chain store that might be near me. Thanks!

 

[FrostRanger]

Ah. I was hoping you were getting it from a local chain store that might be near me. Thanks!

It wouldn't hurt to check your local stores, I'm not aware of any in person stores that sell it but my own birds fortunately eat the crushed oyster shell just fine so I haven't needed to look

 

[rosemarythyme]

@rosemarythyme where do you find the flaked? I have crushed as you described and they have no interest. I’m thinking I could mix the flaked shell in with their fermented feed and they would inhale it.

Chewy sells it
https://www.chewy.com/small-pet-select-100-flaked-oyster/dp/1045222

That's the brand I use. The flakes aren't as thick so the birds seem to prefer it. Scratch & Peck (which is local to me) also offers a flake style oyster shell but the pieces are slightly thicker/larger.

Also I wouldn't mix it in with the feed. If only one older bird is having an issue, the rest are getting enough calcium through their layer feed to meet their needs.