Feeding the chickens, by Walter Frederick Osborne
Should I feed my backyard chickens oyster shell?
Laying hens that are actively laying eggs should have plenty of calcium provided in their diet. Since an egg is composed of about 40% calcium, hens have a pretty hefty calcium requirement. Quality commercial lay pellets are designed to be calcium rich.
However a hen’s feed intake will often drop in hot weather so she may not get all of the calcium she needs. Oyster shell is 36-41% calcium and can be a good source of supplementation when offered free choice. It can stay in the digestive tract longer than processed feed thus allowing for a slow continuous release of calcium. Oyster shell preparations that are combined with limestone, Vitamin D and other vitamins and minerals can be especially effective.
