A Hard Lesson in Calcium
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2025 2:53 am
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.
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.