Feed Eggshells To Chickens?

 

So, as a fairly new chicken owner, I continue to learn more about my girls. Recently, since I have noticed that one of my chickens isn’t laying, I’ve been exploring some reasons why, and learned that it’s a good thing to feed eggshells to chickens. Who knew? The calcium chickens need is actually pretty extensive (there’s a great article about eggshells for chickens by The Chicken Chick who I greatly admire!), and eggshells are a great source. Although there is calcium in their feed, extra is always good.

So, I thought I’d try it! I only did it with 7 egg shells to give it a try, and it’s uber simple. I simply used the shells from the eggs I used to make an (amazing) quiche. (And by the way, the recipe I used for my quiche this time was Rachel Ray’s Your Basic Quiche…actually one of the simplest and best quiche recipes I’ve come across…yet!) I put them on a piece of tin foil, crushed them just a bit, and when I took the quiche out of the oven, I put these in for another 10 minutes, then turned the oven off and let them sit for another 5 minutes.

When they came out, I let them cool, then folded up the foil and crushed em down. So these many eggs only filled up a lunch baggie about half way, but it’s a start. I only have 7 chickens, so it won’t take long to get a bowl full. I was surprised how easy this was, and how clean to do.

Next step: I’ll see what the girls think!

If you had told me a year ago I would be doing this stuff, I would have said you were crazy! Why am I doing this? In a word: grandkids. They talked me into it…they wrote a paper on why it would be a good thing to have chickens, so we said ok. The Great Chicken Undertaking has been so much fun. The girls have learned a lot about responsibility, chores (and admittedly chickens are purty dirty….), and the whole thing about chickens, roosters, eggs, and…well, you know. Not to mention we have the most amazing, delicious beautiful eggs imaginable! I can’t even eat store eggs anymore.

All good!