Adding calcium when they won’t touch oyster shells

[Zenmonkey]

I'm going to come at this from a slightly different approach. I had a similar issue with pigeons about 20 years ago. I was new to the species and didn't know how much grit they should be eating.

Somewhere my grit had gotten damp, and the birds decided they didn't like it, and weren't going to eat it. Even if it literally killed them.

Long story made short, I threw out the grit that they weren't eating, threw out the bag, bought new grit, and they began eating it like it was candy.

All this to say that for the cost of a new bag of grit, I might try replacing the old grit and see if it changes their attitude towards it.

FYI Pigeon grit is typically different from chicken grit, and is flavored / smells like anise. You can feed it to chickens as well, but it costs more than crushed oyster shell. I'm not saying to spring for the pigeon grit, only that a fresh bag of chicken grit might be well received.

 

[BDutch]

I am following the directions on the Manna Pro Calcium Bag which suggests adding 1 pound calcium to 20 pounds LAYER feed.
View attachment 4081692

Maybe you can if you have commercial laying hybrids who lay an egg every day.
This is definitely not a good idea for most BY chickens if the layer feed contains 4% calcium.

 

[Mountain Roost]

I find there is no universal way to keep poultry. I learn best from reading other peoples experiences and trials and errors. I like to offer my direct experience to others as a learning opportunity as well. Not once I have "should' upon anyone in this thread.

I weighed out 1 pound of calcium for visuals sake. Looking at that pile, adding that much to 20 pounds of layer feed doesn't seem unreasonable to me.
I sell hatching eggs and my eggs are all solid, not mottled or with spots when candled. The eggs also do not have any extra calcium build up in the form of lumps and such. My birds lay great and have great feathers too And for clarification sake I feed 22% organic grower I buy by the ton locally. To be honest, when I add the calcium I just eye ball it and toss some in the mix every few feedings. They leave the bigger pieces and eat the rest.

I also agree with the spot treatment of problem birds as I stated I do with my goose on page one of this thread.

warm regards, Mountain Roost

 

[talkinboutchickens]

I put my egg shells in my convection oven, around 350 degrees for around 15 minutes, take out, let cool, then crush finely with a mortar and pestle (but not into a powder). My chickens go crazy for it and think it's a treat. Put in a feeder or put in their feed. You can also do this in a regular oven

 

[nuthatched]

I'm going to come at this from a slightly different approach. I had a similar issue with pigeons about 20 years ago. I was new to the species and didn't know how much grit they should be eating.

Somewhere my grit had gotten damp, and the birds decided they didn't like it, and weren't going to eat it. Even if it literally killed them.

Long story made short, I threw out the grit that they weren't eating, threw out the bag, bought new grit, and they began eating it like it was candy.

All this to say that for the cost of a new bag of grit, I might try replacing the old grit and see if it changes their attitude towards it.

FYI Pigeon grit is typically different from chicken grit, and is flavored / smells like anise. You can feed it to chickens as well, but it costs more than crushed oyster shell. I'm not saying to spring for the pigeon grit, only that a fresh bag of chicken grit might be well received.

Grit for chickens is crushed granite, grit for smaller birds is oyster shell or coral.

 

[tlcmurphy]

I'm going to come at this from a slightly different approach. I had a similar issue with pigeons about 20 years ago. I was new to the species and didn't know how much grit they should be eating.

Somewhere my grit had gotten damp, and the birds decided they didn't like it, and weren't going to eat it. Even if it literally killed them.

Long story made short, I threw out the grit that they weren't eating, threw out the bag, bought new grit, and they began eating it like it was candy.

All this to say that for the cost of a new bag of grit, I might try replacing the old grit and see if it changes their attitude towards it.

FYI Pigeon grit is typically different from chicken grit, and is flavored / smells like anise. You can feed it to chickens as well, but it costs more than crushed oyster shell. I'm not saying to spring for the pigeon grit, only that a fresh bag of chicken grit might be well received.

Grit and oyster shell are not the same. Oyster shell is to add calcium to their diet, while grit is used to grind up what they eat in their gizzards.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

We currently feed Nutrena Egg Layer feed with 22% protein.

Most "layer" feed will already be around 4% calcium.. which is often enough to meet the needs of most average laying birds..

My birds hardly access the oyster shell when I use "layer" feed. They go through it much more when I use "flock raiser" or other feeds with only 1% calcium..

It's possible there is another issue taking place.. such as a shell gland hiccup.

 

[Zenmonkey]

Grit and oyster shell are not the same. Oyster shell is to add calcium to their diet, while grit is used to grind up what they eat in their gizzards.

My apologies. I typically use the two terms, grit and oyster shell, interchangeably, but I am aware that there's a difference. I'll endeavor to be more careful with my language when I'm offering words to other people, as they don't know what's in my head, only what words I use.

For pigeons, this seems similar to what I've bought locally.

https://foyspetsupplies.com/red-pigeon-grit-50-lbs-1/

Also, for the record, I haven't owned pigeons for over a decade. Also I'm aware that this thread is about chickens, not pigeons. I just saw the bit about the chickens not eating oyster shell, and I thought perhaps something similar to what I experienced might be happening.

 

[BDutch]

I put my egg shells in my convection oven, around 350 degrees for around 15 minutes, take out, let cool, then crush finely with a mortar and pestle (but not into a powder). My chickens go crazy for it and think it's a treat. Put in a feeder or put in their feed. You can also do this in a regular oven

Yes, egg shell are good. IMO only 20-30 seconds in the microwave is just fine. Saves time and energy.

 

[talkinboutchickens]

Yes, egg shell are good. IMO only 20-30 seconds in the microwave is just fine. Saves time and energy.

that's neat I did not know you can do it in the microwave TY for the tip!