Can I crush oyster shells I find on the beach?

[SummerTheAnimalGirl]

Hi all!

I live in Maine right by a cove that I visit often. It always has lots and lots of shells. I was wondering if o could collect oyster shells and grind them down instead of buying oyster shells for my hens?

Thanks In advance!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Yes. Though wear eye protection, and consider (strongly consider) using a heavy cloth, leather, etc something you don't mind destroying as a cover while you hammer to reduce flying shards.

On, if you have a really hard surface, you can build a box, put your oyster shell in there, then drop a sledge hammer on it from low height, repeatedl - or tap, tap, tap to control flyaways. Long term, the box (WELL BUILT) is the better option, but buying at the store is still cheaper by far.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Oyster shells, clam shells, crab claws any hard shells are mostly calcium and are fine to use. Some critters, like crab or lobster, have two kinds of covering. The hard shells that are mostly calcium and the softer translucent covering that is chitin. Some shells are a combination of calcium compounds and chitin. What you are after are the hard ones.

 

[aart]

I would be concerned with very sharp edges.
Thinking commercial OS is tumbled to remove those.

 

[SummerTheAnimalGirl]

Well, thank you so much for all the replies! Very interesting about the crab shells, we have TONS of those.

I would be concerned with very sharp edges.
Thinking commercial OS is tumbled to remove those.

Yes, this was my intitial worry. I do have a tumbler, so maybe I could just put them kn there are tumble them for a day or two before I give them to the chickens?

 

[3KillerBs]

I would suggest washing them thoroughly to remove excess salt that may be dried onto/soaked into them.

 

[aart]

Yes, this was my intitial worry. I do have a tumbler, so maybe I could just put them kn there are tumble them for a day or two before I give them to the chickens?

I guess you could but it seems like a lot of effort when a 50# bag costs less than $20 and lasts a couple years(does here anyway, I feed an all flock and have ~16 birds)

 

[SummerTheAnimalGirl]

I guess you could but it seems like a lot of effort when a 50# bag costs less than $20 and lasts a couple years(does here anyway, I feed an all flock and have ~16 birds)

Oh yeah, it does at that price! I didn’t know I could find oyster shells that cheap….I bought a small bag of them that cost 20$, and it only lasted me a few weeks. Multiple places I looked had them at the same price, and that added up quickly. where do you buy yours?

 

[3KillerBs]

Oh yeah, it does at that price! I didn’t know I could find oyster shells that cheap….I bought a small bag of them that cost 20$, and it only lasted me a few weeks. Multiple places I looked had them at the same price, and that added up quickly. where do you buy yours?

Ask at your local farm store.

The 50# bag usually isn't on the shelves, it's generally in the warehouse section where you buy it and then the warehouse workers bring it out to load it in your vehicle.

 

[nuthatched]

I guess you could but it seems like a lot of effort when a 50# bag costs less than $20 and lasts a couple years(does here anyway, I feed an all flock and have ~16 birds)

It's $13 here