A Hard Lesson in Calcium

[TheEggMaster]

When I first started keeping chickens, I wanted to do everything as naturally as possible. I read that crushed eggshells were a great source of calcium, so I figured, why buy oyster shell when I could just recycle what my hens already laid? It seemed like a perfect, self-sustaining solution.

For months, my small flock of six seemed to do just fine. They laid beautiful eggs, and every morning, I tossed a handful of dried, crushed shells into their feeder. But then, something changed.

One morning, I found an egg with a thin, almost rubbery shell. It was so fragile it broke in my hand. At first, I brushed it off as a fluke. But then, another hen laid a soft-shelled egg. A week later, one of my best layers, Daisy, started walking stiffly, her tail drooping. She struggled to get onto the roost at night, and something in my gut told me something was wrong.

After some research, I realized my mistake, eggshells alone weren't enough calcium for my girls. They were getting just bits and pieces, not a steady, reliable source. Worse, Daisy had signs of egg binding, a dangerous condition where a soft egg gets stuck inside a hen because her muscles don't have enough strength to push it out.

I rushed to the feed store and bought a bag of oyster shell. That evening, I made a warm Epsom salt bath for Daisy and massaged her belly gently. Thankfully, she passed the egg, and within a few days, she perked up. I felt so guilty for not realizing this sooner.

Now, I always keep a dish of oyster shell available for my hens. They take what they need, and since then, I haven't had a single soft-shelled egg. It was a tough lesson, but one I won't forget.

If you're new to chickens, don't make the same mistake I did, eggshells are good, but they're not enough. Give your girls the calcium they truly need, and they'll thank you with strong, healthy eggs.

[HatchlingHustler]

Soft eggs can be scary! I had a hen get egg-bound, and it was awful. She barely made it. Since then, I never rely on eggshells alone. Oyster shell is cheap insurance!

[FowlPlayMaster]

I always wondered why some people say eggshells are fine and others swear by oyster shell. Your experience makes it clear, eggshells just aren't enough in the long run.

[Eggnigma]

That's a hard lesson, but I'm glad Daisy pulled through! I've always used oyster shell, but now I know why it's so important. Thanks for sharing your experience!

[EggHatchHobbyist]

Great reminder! I mix eggshells into their feed, but I also keep a dish of oyster shell out at all times. The hens seem to know when they need it.

[CoopCrafter]

My hens refused to eat oyster shell at first, so I started mixing it into their feed a little at a time. Eventually, they started taking it on their own. Maybe that could help others with picky birds!

[EggSeeker]

This is really helpful! I'm new to chickens and was planning to use just eggshells. I'll make sure to get oyster shell now. Thanks for the heads-up!

[FeatheredDreamer]

Glad you caught it in time! I had no idea soft eggs could lead to egg binding. It's amazing how small mistakes can teach such big lessons in chicken keeping!

[PasturedPeep]

I had the same issue last year! I thought eggshells would be enough, but my hens started laying weird, thin eggs. Adding oyster shell made a huge difference. Lesson learned!