Leena Watts
Calcium is one of the most essential nutrients for chickens, contributing to their overall health and egg production. Laying hens, in particular, need a lot of calcium in their diet to produce eggs with strong shells. Without enough calcium, hens may stop laying eggs altogether, as their bodies will prioritise making eggs over bone health. Therefore, it is important to ensure that your chickens are consuming a steady supply of calcium in their diet. This paragraph will discuss some ways to add calcium to your chickens' diet.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Why chickens need calcium | Calcium is one of the most essential nutrients for chickens, aiding overall health and egg production. |
| How much calcium do chickens need? | Laying hens need more calcium than chicks or roosters. Chicks need more protein than calcium. |
| What happens if a chicken doesn't get enough calcium? | Without enough calcium, egg shells will be thin and brittle. If calcium deficiency progresses, hens may stop laying eggs, and their bodies will prioritise making eggs over bone health. |
| What are the signs of calcium deficiency? | Osteoporosis, egg binding, and a high risk of bone fractures. |
| What are good sources of calcium? | Oyster shells, limestone grit, eggshells, grubs, leafy brassicas (e.g. kale and broccoli), and Black Soldier Fly Larvae. |
| How to add calcium to a chicken's diet | Provide a dedicated feeder with crushed oyster shells or limestone grit; add calcium-rich treats like grubs, kale, broccoli, or dried insects with added calcium; ensure access to sunlight or add a Vitamin D3 supplement to aid calcium absorption. |
| Risks of too much calcium | Too much calcium can be harmful and can interfere with kidney function, cause leg issues, impaired mobility, and even death. |
| Calcium toxicity | Calcium toxicity is rare in laying hens but common in chicks and non-laying birds fed a complete layer feed. Young birds should never eat high-calcium diets as it can damage their kidneys and shorten their lifespan. |
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What You'll Learn
- Oyster shells and limestone grit are safe, cost-effective sources of calcium
- Avoid feeding eggshells to chickens due to health risks
- Provide a dedicated feeder of crushed oyster shells
- Add vitamin D3 to their diet for effective calcium absorption
- Calcium-rich snacks, like grubs, can be nutrient-dense treats
Oyster shells and limestone grit are safe, cost-effective sources of calcium
Calcium is an essential nutrient for hens to lay healthy eggs and maintain their overall health and longevity. While calcium is naturally present in a hen's diet, additional calcium is required to meet the calcium demands of egg production. Oyster shells and limestone grit are safe and cost-effective sources of calcium that can help meet these demands.
Oyster shells have been traditionally used to provide calcium to hens and are considered the standard calcium source by poultry farmers. They are available in retail packs and bulk packaging, offering a natural and organic calcium supplement. The particle size and porosity of oyster shells influence the retention of calcium in the gizzard of laying hens, with larger particles leading to increased solubility and absorption.
Limestone is another safe and cost-effective calcium alternative. It is important to ensure that any limestone provided to chickens is food-grade and safe for consumption. Ground limestone, also known as calcium carbonate powder, can be purchased and offered to hens in a separate container, allowing them to consume it as needed. Research has shown that larger particles of limestone result in higher calcium availability in the small intestine.
Both oyster shells and limestone are preferred over feeding eggshells back to chickens, as eggshells may be contaminated with salmonella, posing health risks to both the hens and humans consuming the eggs. Additionally, feeding eggshells to chickens may teach them to start eating their own eggs.
By providing oyster shells and limestone grit, you can ensure your hens receive sufficient calcium to support egg production and overall health while avoiding the health risks associated with other calcium sources. Remember, it is crucial to maintain a balance between calcium and phosphorous, as phosphorous is also essential for eggshell quality and bone health.
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Avoid feeding eggshells to chickens due to health risks
While eggshells are a good source of calcium, there are several health risks associated with feeding them to chickens. Firstly, salmonella can be present on the inside and outside of eggs, and feeding eggshells back to chickens can cause salmonella infection in the birds. This, in turn, can affect the eggs they produce, leading to potential salmonella infection in humans who consume those eggs.
Another risk of feeding eggshells to chickens is that it may teach them to start eating their own eggs. When chickens start to recognize their food as eggshells, they may begin to eat and destroy the eggs they lay. This can result in a decrease in egg production and impact the overall health of the flock.
Additionally, eggshells from store-bought eggs may contain bacteria that chickens' systems are not used to, potentially making them sick. While some people bake the eggshells before feeding them to chickens to kill bacteria, this is not always effective and can be time-consuming.
Furthermore, feeding eggshells to chickens can lead to an imbalance in their calcium intake. While calcium is essential for producing strong eggshells, too much or too little calcium can interfere with kidney function, impair mobility, and even lead to death. It is important to ensure that chickens receive an appropriate amount of calcium from a variety of sources, including their diet and supplements, rather than relying solely on eggshells as a calcium source.
Overall, while eggshells may seem like a convenient and economical way to provide calcium to chickens, it is advisable to avoid feeding them to chickens due to the potential health risks outlined above. Instead, consider safer alternatives such as oyster shells or limestone to supplement calcium in their diet.
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Provide a dedicated feeder of crushed oyster shells
Calcium is essential for the health and longevity of hens. It is particularly important for laying hens, as it is a crucial component of eggshells. Oyster shells are a common calcium source for egg-laying hens. They are available at most feed stores, either pre-ground or whole. Alternatively, you can collect oyster shells from local restaurants, which usually throw them away, or purchase them from grocery stores or online.
To prepare oyster shells for your chickens, start by breaking them down into smaller pieces. You can do this by placing the shells in an old sack and using a hammer to smash them, or by driving over the bag with your car. If you prefer a powder form, you can use a food processor to grind the shells. Before feeding the shells to your chickens, it is important to bake them at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes to kill any bacteria or pathogens.
Once the oyster shells are prepared, provide a dedicated feeder or bowl filled with the crushed shells. Place this alongside your chickens' feed, allowing them to access the calcium source freely and regulate their intake as needed. Hens will instinctively eat from the bowl when they require extra calcium. It is important to consistently provide oyster shells throughout the year, even if your chickens are not laying eggs at certain times.
In addition to oyster shells, you can also offer other calcium-rich foods to your chickens, such as leafy greens like kale and broccoli. However, it is important to ensure that calcium is not mixed with their feed or treats, as excessive calcium can interfere with kidney function and cause health issues.
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Add vitamin D3 to their diet for effective calcium absorption
Calcium is an essential nutrient for hens to lay well and stay healthy. An eggshell is made of approximately 90-95% calcium, so a laying hen needs a lot of calcium to make a strong, sturdy eggshell. Calcium is also needed throughout the chicken's body for various other functions, such as controlling muscle spasms.
Vitamin D3 is essential for the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus in birds. It comes from sunlight, and chickens with outdoor access usually get plenty of vitamin D3 from sunlight. However, if you are supplementing calcium due to a deficiency, adding vitamin D3 can be a good idea. This is because vitamin D3 is mostly responsible for calcium deficiency in brooder-raised chicks displaying signs of rickets. In that case, a Calcium D3 supplement may be effective.
Studies have shown that increasing dietary vitamin D3 with increased dietary calcium can reduce the incidence and severity of tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) in young broilers. TD occurs in fast-growing avian species and is a lesion in which the growth plate of the tibia head is avascular and is not mineralized, causing bowing of the tibiotarsus and lameness of the bird.
Additionally, dietary vitamin D3 supplementation has been shown to protect laying hens against lipopolysaccharide-induced immunological stress. It also improves the walking ability and welfare status of broiler chickens reared at high stocking densities.
Therefore, if you are adding calcium to your chicken's diet, it is important to also add vitamin D3 to ensure effective calcium absorption and to prevent potential calcium deficiencies.
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Calcium-rich snacks, like grubs, can be nutrient-dense treats
Calcium is one of the most essential nutrients for chickens, contributing to bone health and overall health. Laying hens need a lot of calcium to produce eggshells, and a deficiency can cause severe bone damage. To avoid this, chicken keepers must ensure their chickens are consuming a steady supply of calcium in their diets.
Other calcium-rich treats include leafy brassicas like kale and broccoli. However, scraps and treats should make up no more than 10% of a chicken's diet. It is also important to avoid forage high in oxalic acid, such as spinach.
While calcium is essential, too much can be harmful. Calcium supplements should be provided separately and free-choice unless a deficiency has been identified. Signs of calcium deficiency include thin or soft eggshells, reduced egg production, and bone weakness. On the other hand, excessive calcium interferes with kidney function and can cause leg issues, impaired mobility, and even death.
Chicken keepers can also provide calcium in the form of oyster shells, limestone grit, or calcium-rich chicken feed. These options are safe, effective, and easily accessible for chickens.
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Frequently asked questions
Calcium is an essential nutrient for chickens, vital for overall health and egg production. It helps hens lay healthy eggs with strong eggshells.
Signs of calcium deficiency include thin and brittle eggshells, osteoporosis, egg binding, and a high risk of bone fractures. If the deficiency progresses, hens may stop laying eggs.
Good sources of calcium for chickens include crushed oyster shells, limestone grit, and calcium-rich feeds. You can also add calcium supplements to their diet, such as Shell Grit or D3 supplements.
The amount of calcium a chicken needs depends on its age and whether it is a laying hen or a chick. Laying hens require more calcium for egg production, while chicks need more protein for growth. Too much calcium can be harmful, so it's important to provide a balanced diet.
To add calcium to a chicken's diet, provide calcium-rich treats such as leafy greens (e.g. kale and broccoli), grubs, or dried insects with added calcium. You can also offer a separate feeder with crushed oyster shells or limestone, allowing chickens to self-regulate their calcium intake.
