chickens

[Dave&Olive]

hi ok

            I am looking for crushed oyster shells for the chooks , what do they call them in France , have been to most of the agri / farm shops  and they look at you blank faced . What do other people use ??

                Dave

[Patf]

We give them empty eggshells - waste not want not. They love them.

Oyster shells probably do exist somewhere.

[Danny]

We did buy "coquilles d’huîtres" from the local Gamm Vert but have not bothered for a long time. The chicks seems happy with all the leftovers we give them as well as grains and weeds. Their eggs are good with no shell problems. They love prawn heads and tails which must have some calcium? Personally, I can't stand oysters...They also get calcium from eating insects too if you can let them wander.

You can get your own oyster shells and break them up with a hammer - good outside activity for the Winter

Danny

 

[nectarine]

Like Jane and Danny say, coquilles d'huitres can be obtained from Gamm Vert or Terres Du Sud or any agricultural supplies shop or even some DIY stores. My chooks do peck away at it and produce strong shelled eggs. I'd say, if you can get hold of some then put it in a bowl for the chickens but, if it's difficult to obtain, then a good mixed diet with some occasional crushed eggshell in it should cover all their nutritional needs.

[Quillan]

We buy a 'organic' pelet food from Gemm Vert. Its not because its 'organic', thats more by chance, its because it has everything they need including calcium. We mix it 2 to 1 with grain just to make it more interesting for them. They love the sunflower seeds. I guess it also depends on how big the run area is as well. Ours have the whole garden, 2 acres of it, and there is loads of stuff out there for them to eat. We have placed water containers round the garden as well as in the chicken shed so they don't have far to go for water from anywhere in the garden.

I read that giving them egg shells is OK but it can lead to them eating their own eggs. I don't know if this is true as I have never tried it.

[josa]

I leave oyster shells available for them to take when they want to  - I also scatter grit for digestion, although I suspect they can pick most of this up as they scratch around - I also feed Layers Pellets and Mixed corn along with the occasional treat of a tin of sweetcorn which they love.

When they are in moult or in need of extra calcium (if their egg shells feel thin) then we bake some eggshells and crush them into powder to mix with food - it seems to do the trick. 

BTW - I went into Pets at Home recently and saw they do 1kg of oyster shells for £2.99 - I get a 25kg sack from Marriages for £6.05 - what sort of profit are Pets at Home making on that!!

[Dave&Olive]

hi ok

               Thanks will have a look in Espace to see if I can find "coquilles d’huîtres".

  Just for info ..if you roast the egg shells  and crumble them the chickens will not eat their own eggs

                       Dave

[Kitty]

When you do get hens eating their own eggs, it is annoying because you never know which one of them is doing it.

[Dave&Olive]

hi ok

                 Just to say found them in Le Clerc`s  agri bati  in Parthenay.

                        ta   Dave