calcium for chickens.

[silverseeds]

I was trying to think of a way I could replace feeding chickens grit or something for calcium. I think I have it!!

Pillbugs AKA rolly pollies AKA sowbugs AKA potatoe bugs!!!

They are not bugs at all! they are crustaceans. VERY easy to culture them with layers of manure and leaves kept damp.... Their shells are not the exoskeleton of most insects but rather a tiny shell as if it was a sea creature, which it once was!! Its relatives still live in the sea and are rather large.

Anyway, I thought Id share the idea. I know the calcium stuff for chickens isnt expensive, but perhaps it will be a desirable idea for some others.

[praieri winds]

you could also bake your egg shells, grind them and add to the feed

[DarleneJ]

I have a planted aquarium. I was just thinking of feeding them all the pond snails I clean out of it (they multiply very fast). I still will have to supplement because there are not enough snails for my girls.

We've also gotten our black soldier fly larvae bin going and are beginning to feed them to the chickens. They have a very high calcium content and 42% protein. Yum! Good stuff for da girls.

"Secondly, this non-pest larvae converts the manure's nutrients into 42% protein and 35% fat feedstuff. This conversion of waste into feedstuff is called bioconversion and, consequently, the larvae can be fed right back to the animals or birds that generated the waste or used as feed for fish or livestock. It can be ground up and fed to earthworms or red worms for a second round or just used as compost. The larva is dry, friable, and odorless.

In addition, many experts believe that the high calcium content of the larvae (also called "phoenix worms") may halt or reverse the effects of metabolic bone disease. This biomass, of larvae harvested nutrients, is worth about the same as meat and bone or fishmeal. It can be easily and economically transported, unlike unprofitable manure, and reduces the need to import concentrates that are added to other types of feed."

Beneficial insects in the landscape: #51 Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens)

[Jakk]

I do the same thing as Praieri winds. I nuke the egg shells in the microwave to completely dry them out and then grind them up and feed them back to my girls.

[Uncle JD]

Our local feed store sells Oyster Shells at 8 dollars for 50 lbs. One cup mixed in with food every few days seems to do the job. There are always bits of shell remaining after three days of feeding. Seems economical enough for us at this current time. I thought I may go to local lakes to pick up the abundance of mussel shells we have here, crush them, clean them up and feed those to the ladies. Anyone have any thoughts on that?

Blessings,

jd

[Kazahleenah]

I also use oyster shell... but I made a PVC thingie that the chickens can "eat" out of it whenever they desire. Less waste, and they get the calcium.

[Kazahleenah]

Originally Posted by praieri winds

you could also bake your egg shells, grind them and add to the feed

I use my egg shells for the garden.... a tea made with them is a great way to avoid blossom end rot in tomatoes and peppers.

[Faithful]

Bake the egg shells then crush them up and feed them to your chickens .