How long do grit and oyster shell last

[dragonmaker]

How long does a bag of oyster shell last for 5 birds in lay? Can I use the fine powdered oyster shell I have as a calcium supplement for goats or do I need flaked oyster shell for ducks? How long does a bag of grit last for 5 birds who don’t free range and eat mostly a commercial feed with a few treats? I’m trying to figure out how much ducks cost to raise.

 

[TOMTE]

I'm not sure about ducks but my dad bought a small bag of grit about a month ago for our 5 chickens and it's still basically full. They only take a few pieces every couple days or so.

I read that oyster shells should last a good long while too, as long as you keep them in a dry area, because birds don't need a ton of it. If I remember correctly, you should use crushed (flaked, not powdered), and have it available in a bowl for them all the time, so they can take what they need when they need it.

 

[nuthatched]

Ages. If your birds have acess to dirt, you likely don't need to buy that.
Oyster shell is just a supplement, they'll take as they need.
1 #5 sack lasts me over a year with 12 birds and it's cheap to begin with.

 

[Quatie]

It partly depends on the oyster shells. Ducks are picky about their calcium sources. Most prefer the flaked pure oyster shells. I did an experiment when I switched the oyster shells I was feeding. I used the pelleted ones before, which are a combination or coral and oyster shell. I placed equal amounts of it out for them. They barely touched the pelleted ones, while going through the flaked ones several times faster than they have ever gone through oyster shells before. The shells were a lot better quality after the switch.

I would be a bit worried about a fine powdered oyster shell, because birds have sensitive lungs. I could see the dust irritating them as they eat it.

 

[dragonmaker]

I hadn’t thought of it irritating their lungs. Good point!

 

[Canadian Wind]

If they're only eating commercial feed, they won't need grit at all either.