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Barnyard Buddies:  What can I use instead of Oyster shell?  |
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retasos2
True Blue Farmgirl
272 Posts
Pilar
Centereach
NY
USA
272 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 28 2011 : 06:23:02 AM
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My hens are not eating it.
Pilar
Farmgirl Sister #2498
Little Hen House on the Island
" A woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong she is, until she gets in hot water" Eleanore Roosevelt |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Nov 28 2011 : 06:35:44 AM
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this is only an idea but my thought is. if they need it they eat itsometimes mine eat a lot and then a long time will go by before they eat more. hope it helps sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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magnoliakathy
True Blue Farmgirl
453 Posts
Kathryn
Magnolia
Texas
USA
453 Posts |
Posted - Nov 28 2011 : 06:37:24 AM
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Cooked, crushed egg shells. When I boil eggs, I save the shells, and crush them when they are dry. I have heard of roasting egg shells until lightly brown, but I have brown egg layers, so I don't know how to tell when they are "done" maybe easy to crush? I boil about 1 dozen eggs every other week or so use the shells, even if I have oyster shell in a feeder for them.
When you free your mind your heart can fly. Farmgirl # 714, |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Nov 28 2011 : 06:42:37 AM
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I always give my chickens their egg shells back to eat. They are crushed but not really small. I have only had a few really soft egg shells. I have a cold frame that I throw all my scraps out in and the chickens eat and scratch around and you should see this soil now. So nice and black and light.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1257 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
1257 Posts |
Posted - Nov 28 2011 : 07:33:16 AM
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see my article on 'Help my chickens are eating their eggs' here in this section....I too have some that never seem to want to eat enough calcium so I do the calcium tablets...hope this helps you...Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
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retasos2
True Blue Farmgirl
272 Posts
Pilar
Centereach
NY
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - Nov 28 2011 : 07:36:03 AM
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Thank you ladies, I'll be purchasing the calcium tablets and tunafish this afternoon.
Pilar
Farmgirl Sister #2498
Little Hen House on the Island
" A woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong she is, until she gets in hot water" Eleanore Roosevelt |
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Wildcrafter
True Blue Farmgirl
340 Posts
Suzanne
Seattle
WA
USA
340 Posts |
Posted - Nov 28 2011 : 07:38:26 AM
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Make sure raw apple cider vinegar is put in their water. Lots of good minerals. 1/2 cup in 3 gallons of water go in my chickens' waterers. And if you make herbal vinegars, the mineral content is even higher. Not just calcium but other minerals that make up their egg shells. Think horsetail, nettles, comfrey, wild mustards, any of the mints make good herbal vinegars. If you go to my recipes/articles page of my website, I give clear directions and recipes for herbal vinegars. That's what my chickens get!
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Cedar Mountain Herb School and Botanicals
www.cedarmountainherbs.com
Become a fan! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cedar-Mountain-Herb-School/199194060117277
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retasos2
True Blue Farmgirl
272 Posts
Pilar
Centereach
NY
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - Nov 28 2011 : 08:07:05 AM
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I have the following dried herbs: comfrey, peppermint, nettle, yellow dock & dandelion. Can I use them in an herbal vinegar?
Pilar
Farmgirl Sister #2498
Little Hen House on the Island
" A woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong she is, until she gets in hot water" Eleanore Roosevelt |
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Megan
True Blue Farmgirl
155 Posts
Megan
Hudson
South Dakota
USA
155 Posts |
Posted - Nov 28 2011 : 08:46:41 AM
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Try to get the greens that your grocery store is discarding, as they are high in calcium, or try alfalfa. My dad use to raise a lot of game birds and if they started to lay soft shell eggs he would get something green in their diet. We use alfalfa leaves with our laying hens along with the oyster shell.
www.rockriverexoticsandkennel.net |
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oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl
1511 Posts
tina
quartz hill
ca
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - Nov 28 2011 : 10:23:56 AM
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sprinkle the shells in the dirt where they enjoy scratching, toss a handful of feed there also, they will eat it that way without question...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
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Wildcrafter
True Blue Farmgirl
340 Posts
Suzanne
Seattle
WA
USA
340 Posts |
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batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1257 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
1257 Posts |
Posted - Nov 29 2011 : 07:50:20 AM
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Chickens create their own Vit C, so its not something you have to worry about if they are getting normal feed so any herbal vinegars you create don't worry about if the Vit C has gone....Do stay away from any citrus peels that you put in any vinegars as it is very toxic & can kill a chicken quickly.....Other herbs will be a benefit like Suzanne says & since they love apple cidar vinegar its a great way to get them to get them when all else they ignore..:)...Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
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Dusky Beauty
True Blue Farmgirl
1108 Posts
Jen
Tonopah
AZ
USA
1108 Posts |
Posted - Nov 29 2011 : 7:15:22 PM
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waste milk/cream/buttermilk poured on top of crumble is a traditional way to augment your eggers diet. I believe the traditional order for food scraps goes:
goats/milk cow---> poultry yard ---> hogs
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
http://silvermoonfarm.blogspot.com/
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
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Barnyard Buddies: What can I use instead of Oyster shell? |
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What can I use instead of Oyster shell?
