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Stujan
Joined: 05 Jul 2008
Posts: 108
Location: East Sussex
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 Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 5:00 pm Post subject: Who said sea shells from the sea shore ! |
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As newbies we would like to say how brilliant this forum is for all kinds of answers and a big hello to all .
Moving swiftly on here is our first question and many might think a bit daft but here goes .
We were under the impression that ground oyster shell was fine to give our POL hens but now we read somewhere that its not such a good idea and that a softer type of shell is recommended , is this right or are we in a tizz about nothing and just having newbie worries . ..... any comments very welcome .... Stu and Jan  |
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Autumn
Joined: 27 Jun 2008
Posts: 238
Location: Suffolk
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| Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 5:13 pm Post subject: |
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Hello!  I'm a total newby too and don't have an answer, just thought I'd stop to say 'Hi'. The others on here are really good - what a godsend this site is, especially for people like us who are new to it all!!
Good luck. |
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Stujan
Joined: 05 Jul 2008
Posts: 108
Location: East Sussex
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| Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 5:18 pm Post subject: |
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Hello Autumn, what a lovely welcome thankyou, good luck to you too , and if I get an answer I will share it with you , after all us newbies have got to look after each other  |
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crazypianolady
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 645
Location: Nottinghamshire
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| Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 6:11 pm Post subject: |
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Welcome one and all!
Most people give their chickens 'mixed grit' either mixed in with the pellets or in a seperate container. The 'mixed' bit means it has both actual grit for digestion and - yes - ground oyster shell for its calcium content. (For egg shells mainly)
Enjoy keeping your chickens!
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mojo
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 10145
Location: GLENAY north deux sevre FRANCE
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| Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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| the secret is two types of grit nonsoluble (for grinding ) and soluble( for helping shells for egg production)....................most folks buy mixed grits which contains both............poultry keepers have used oyster shells for years the secret is that they are ground fine |
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EGirl
Joined: 01 Nov 2007
Posts: 958
Location: Dublin, Ireland
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 8:52 am Post subject: |
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Welcome to the forum StuJan.......in Ireland the chickens say Mrrrk mrrk, must be an accent thing!  |
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Henwife
Joined: 31 Jan 2006
Posts: 2932
Location: Monmouthshire
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 9:52 am Post subject: |
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| One of the things that people overlook is that if you feed layers pellets they are formulated with sufficient calcium for heavy layers. Battery/barn poultry are rarely given additional grit. |
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Stujan
Joined: 05 Jul 2008
Posts: 108
Location: East Sussex
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Autumn wrote: | Hello! I'm a total newby too and don't have an answer, just thought I'd stop to say 'Hi'. The others on here are really good - what a godsend this site is, especially for people like us who are new to it all!!
Good luck. |
Well there ya go ! just ask and all is told ! what a great bunch, or should that be flock! |
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Stujan
Joined: 05 Jul 2008
Posts: 108
Location: East Sussex
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 3:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Thankyou all for your advice and welcomes , awwwww it makes me want to fluff my feathers up! |
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Autumn
Joined: 27 Jun 2008
Posts: 238
Location: Suffolk
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:06 pm Post subject: |
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Dusty
Joined: 07 Jan 2008
Posts: 558
Location: St. Asaph
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:50 pm Post subject: |
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I leave a container of mixed grit with some oyster shell - fine ground near to the layers pellets.
Some of the girls eat it - the Modern game and the Black Rocks.
I'm happy to leave it there and they can help themselves if they want it. |
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strangey
Joined: 16 Jun 2008
Posts: 62
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 10:53 am Post subject: |
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| Hi sorry to hijack the post but i feed layers pellets and mixed corn and in the corner of the hut i have a tub of broken oyster shells do i need to offer fine grit and do i need to break the oyster shells up to fine dust as now they are the size of a pea ??? |
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Stujan
Joined: 05 Jul 2008
Posts: 108
Location: East Sussex
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:26 am Post subject: |
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| strangey wrote: | | Hi sorry to hijack the post but i feed layers pellets and mixed corn and in the corner of the hut i have a tub of broken oyster shells do i need to offer fine grit and do i need to break the oyster shells up to fine dust as now they are the size of a pea ??? |
Good question Strangey, dont worry about the hijack, you can do what you want with me but leave the girls alone !
Here's what I did, I got an old treacle tin and made a small hole in the lid , filled the tin half full of my shell (which is fairly course, like yours ) the fed the shank of a spade drill (flat bit) I used a old 1 inch one , through the hole and then tightened the shank in my cordless drill , put the lid on real tight then wizzed it for a minute, the result was a blend of course and some very fine grains! which Thunder, Lightning, Matilda, and Polly seem to love as they get a mix of almost dust and bigger bits . this is obviously a home method so please be careful and wear gloves when doing it and if you can jam the tin in a vice or similar even better !!!! ps, keep the bottom of the bit higher than the base of the tin!!! good luck.  |
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strangey
Joined: 16 Jun 2008
Posts: 62
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Cheers stujan now that sounds like fun |
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