Oyster Shells

Oyster shells give laying hens extra calcium for strong eggshells and healthy bones.

Offer them in a separate dish, not mixed into feed, so layers take what they need. Start when your pullet lays her first egg or if you see thin or soft shells. Roosters, cockerels, and chicks shouldn’t eat oyster shell because extra calcium can hurt their kidneys and slow healthy growth. Keep shells dry and remember: oyster shell is not grit—grit is small stones that help birds grind food.