Crushed Oyster Shells & Shellfish Allergy

[LaurenThompson]

Hello!

We have had our Ready-to-Lay ladies for a little over a week. We have been getting lots of blue eggs from our 2 blue layers, but our 3 brown ladies have yet to produce a brown egg that isn't soft.
Is this normal for immature birds? To lay a few soft eggs before some hard ones?

I've read about crushed oyster shells, so we picked up a bag. My question is, with a shellfish allergy - should I be handling the crushed shells? It's no problem to have my husband or kids to handle it....but it just got me thinking....

Thanks in advance!

 

[Fuchsia]

Yes, it is normal for newly laying hens to lay soft eggs before hard ones.
And I don't know about you handling the shells.

 

[piminuse]

I too am allergic to shellfish, but the oysterhsells have never given me any issues. Maybe do a small skin test on the wrist to check before handing tho?

 

[LaurenThompson]

I too am allergic to shellfish, but the oysterhsells have never given me any issues. Maybe do a small skin test on the wrist to check before handing tho?

Wonderful - Thank you!

 

[Percheron chick]

It's pretty normal to have some hickups at the beginning. They typically work themselves out on their own in 2-3 weeks. I would not be concerned with handling oyster shells with a sea food allergy because you are most likely sensitive to the protein. That's burned off and you are just left with inert Ca. If in doubt, offer limestone instead. ( in the garden section).

 

[LaurenThompson]

It's pretty normal to have some hickups at the beginning. They typically work themselves out on their own in 2-3 weeks. I would not be concerned with handling oyster shells with a sea food allergy because you are most likely sensitive to the protein. That's burned off and you are just left with inert Ca. If in doubt, offer limestone instead. ( in the garden section).

Thank you!! I didn’t know the process so this helps very much!

 

[bobbi-j]

You can always crush egg shells to feed them if you're worried about the oyster shell.

 

[LaurenThompson]

You can always crush egg shells to feed them if you're worried about the oyster shell.

I did that yesterday, but I used all the eggs we had from them - They are young and not producing that many per week yet so I got the crushed oysters to give them a boost in calcium. I do appreciate the comment though, it is definitely something I will be doing when I have enough