Do free ranging chicken get naural calcium?

[Swastik Choudhari]

So i have 6 chickens, all of them free range and lay eggs regularly.

My question is i do free rage them but do not supplement them with calcium or oyster shells but they lay all perfect eggs where do they get calcium from?

And can i continue this?

 

[Mysimplewyominglife]

I free range mine to and for about 6 months I have forgotten mixed grit but their shells seem harder now then before, I'm unsure where they are getting their calcium from other then maybe the layers feed I give them? (I use to have a lush grass area 6 months ago now it's a mud pit lol) but I have now mix grit with loads of shell in it for calcium.

I have come to the point where I'll just leave the grit mix out and they will take it if they need it. I know if they don't get enough they will start feather pecking on themselfs and other for calcium and thats not nice to deal with wither it's for calcium or just a plain mean hen.

If you don't want to use mix grit any eggs you get you can keep the shell wash and dry it break it up a bit and give it back to them cuts a bit of cost if your worried about $ goodness know most people are these days.

 

[theoldchick]

Calcium is available in certain plants. Chitin in insect exoskeleton while provides protein, it helps the chicken to absorb calcium. Chickens can get calcium from dirt they eat. Remember chickens free ranged long before we decided to domesticate them and they did quite well!

 

[aart]

I'm unsure where they are getting their calcium from other then maybe the layers feed I give them?

Well, yes.
Read the fine print on the tag sewn into bottom of bag.
Not sure if that's a requirement in the UK, but it is here.
Should list the percentages of main nutrients.
Layer feed calcium is usually about 3-4%.

 

[Mysimplewyominglife]

Well, yes.
Read the fine print on the tag sewn into bottom of bag.
Not sure if that's a requirement in the UK, but it is here.
Should list the percentages of main nutrients.
Layer feed calcium is usually about 3-4%.

I think a large amount chicken feed comes with some amount calcium but I should have made it more clear that I'm was unsure if they got all they needed from the feed or not and were the extra came from if it was not enough, also we don't have tags sewn on the bags over here it's printed on the bag.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Its not a bad idea to at least offer it. If they eat it, they eat it... if they don't, they don't.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

I don’t offer it sometimes depends on how I’m feeling cause I free range just fine and eggs are just fine.

 

[Mysimplewyominglife]

I would like to point out that if chickens don't get enough calcium the will pluck their own or others feather and eat them, thinner egg shells or could stop laying all together and I heard they could some how leech calcium from their bones. if only a few are true then it might be worth offering it once a month or soe for a week just to be on the safe side.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Oyster shell lasts forever, so if they don't need it it can just sit there. If they do need it for some reason, then you're covered.

Ounce for ounce, dandelion has more calcium than milk. Comfrey is super high in calcium.

 

[Mysimplewyominglife]

Ounce for ounce, dandelion has more calcium than milk. Comfrey is super high in calcium.

sounds like why I no longer have any weeds and why my chickens keep trying to break into the neighbours yard he has loads of dandelion weeds LOL!