Saturday, January 14, 2012

What other type of calcium can I give to my chicken besides oyster shells?

My chicken needs to go back in her coop with 11 other chickens she has been living in my cellar for 3 weeks now. When she goes outside the other 5 big chickens pick on her. SHe can't live in my cellar forever please help answer my questions.

What other type of calcium can I give to my chicken besides oyster shells?
oyster shell is the least expensive,and besides the calcium chickens derive from it,the shells grind their food in their crop.you can use crushed eggshells,they absorb the calcium quickly.take the chicken from your cellar and put her in a cage next to the other chickens,were they can see her, after two weeks release her. they will still peck, but she will be more accepted than before.
Reply:you should be able to pick up calcium pellets at your local feed store, mineral blocks also provide it. But do not over do these products as they can cause eggs to have too hard of a shell and can get hard before they are laid and can cause your hen to die if that egg breaks inside her because she can not pass it. Only add supplements necessary, if you see overly thin shells, etc.
Reply:Well, any kind of calcium is fine, powdered egg shells work well. Close your cellar and you will find that she will find a way to live with the other chickens, shes just low chicken on the wire so to speak.
Reply:Some animal supply stores sell a powder or liquid form of calcium that you can add the their water supply. I use it for my doves that I breed/raise.
Reply:teach her how to box and then get her a pair of little, chicken sized boxing gloves and turn her loose on those barnyard bullies. Also, you can file notches on her beak so she can do some major damage to the brutes.


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