Chicken eggs *was* Introduction

[Guest guest]

One of the best and natural ways to supply extra calcium to free range

chickens is by feeding their own eggshells. Yes, eggshells. I know that

some folks are afraid that if they do that their chickens will start eating

their own eggs. Not the case usually.

Anyone who raises chickens knows that there can be and usually is a problem

with chickens eating eggs. If you look at it from a more natural

perspective then you'll see that it isn't all bad, especially free range

chickens. My grandmother told me when I was young that it was quite normal

and that the chicken is wanting more calcium (hey, she was gramma, she knew

everything, LOL). I think the general fear of them eating their own eggs

all the time came from a " production " point of view: every egg eaten is an

egg that can't be sold. So feeding them back their own shells is really

going to work in your favor rather than against. I know, I know, I've read

all the books too and they all say not to let the chicken do that. However,

I've never suffered for eggs and neither did my grandmother. I know there's

been quite a few times where I've gone in to collect eggs and somewhere all

that's left is a wet spot. Other times I'll find a half shell. My

eggshells are strong and I get lotsa eggs daily. I haven't bought oyster

shells in a long time.

If you want to feel more secure that your chickens aren't going to go egg

crazy then remove any broken shells daily, BUT....put them in a can or

something like that. Every egg you use in your kitchen, put the egg shell

in that can.

There's a lot of ways to do the following, but the basic idea is to feed the

shells back.

You can dry your eggs in a slow oven, then run through a coffee grinder. or

you can just use a rolling pin (dried or not) to crush them.

Mix with the food before you feed them or simply sprinkle on the ground

where they're most like to scratch.

HTH

RVT, VDT

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