Hey there,
Im having a hard time finding oyster shells. Maybe Im just looking in the wrong places, but can I feed my chickens my own calcium pills?
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You can get oyster shell from:
Westway Feed & Seed Ltd
10600 Ladner Trunk
Delta, BC V4K 3N3
(604) 590-9355
They also have chicken feeders and waterers, grit and feed (they don’t carry organic as a regular thing, but if you call by Wednesday, they can have it for you by Thursday or Friday). They are very nice and helpful.
Cheryl
Westway Feed is a great place and I recommend it, too. There is a Resources page on this blog site that has a list of places that you should be able to find oyster shell and layer feeds.
I will definitely have to check Westway Feed. but just out of curiosity do you think Calcium pills will harm the chickens?
I wouldn’t do it. I can’t see how the hens would be able to control their calcium intake like they can with oyster shell. I don’t know whether too much calcium can be harmful, but even if it isn’t, it seems like a pretty expensive way to give them calcium. Layer feed has calcium in it. Oyster shell is really for hens that are consuming food in addition to layer feed to ensure they are getting enough calcium for good hard shells.
Cheryl
Hey folks,
I’m a farmer from the interior, and an agriculture student from UBC, and I have an old trick to share in regards to chicken calcium.
Save their eggshells, lightly rinsed so they wont be a nuisance, crush them up, then when you have a couple cups of crushed eggshells bake them in the oven – 375C – or around there. This breaks them down so the calcium will be available to the chickens. The eggshells should be a little powdery after baking. Crush them to an average size of the diameter of a bic ballpoint pen shaft, then scatter them in the chickens yard, or mix with their feed in an approximate 1 : 10 ratio.
Happy Chicken Tending!
how about the nearest seafood restaurant? I bring my oyster shells home for my fish the keep the water hard; you can bring them home for your chickens!
And with respect to calcium, I add it all the time to water.