dogs and chickens Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Hi All, I have been reading loads lately about chicken keeping and eggs etc. I have read about using egg shells as grit. Apparently you heat them at 180degree's for 5 mins to kill bacteria, then grind them up. Does anyone do this? Thanks Michelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 yes - I stick them in at any temperature actually, whenever I am cooking something else, then grind them in my pestle and mortar and add a pinch to porridge or other treats every other day or so - they gobble it up and it worked a treat when Ruby was laying soft shells... I love the idea of recycling this way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Yes ..lots of people do it.....but not as a substitute for grit, but as a source of extra calcium. It is vital that your hens have mixed poultry grit in their diet, to help grind their food up in the gizzard. It is also a source of calcium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 I do it too (usually when I've had a bad day ) - very theraputic bashing them up in the pestle and mortar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogs and chickens Posted April 1, 2008 Author Share Posted April 1, 2008 Great, thanks all so much . I will be doing this in future, with the pinch of porridge . So any temperature and for five mins, is that right? Michelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Yep I do the same as Alih - rinse the shells first though so they're clean then in the oven for five minutes when I'm cooking something else - temp really doesnt matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogs and chickens Posted April 1, 2008 Author Share Posted April 1, 2008 I will be doing this while cooking our dinner later. Thanks all Michelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 I tried it,but I really hated the smell of the baking shells, so I just compost them now & give the hens calcium in other ways Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 I give mine the shells left from boiled eggs. I don't give mine grit- they free range most of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 I cleaned out an empty bean tin and put them washed and the inside sac removed to dry sitting on the side of the wood burner - they dry out with no smell and I then grind with the pestle and mortar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajm200 Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 One tip - don't forget and leave them in the oven too long. The smell of burnt eggshell is really disgusting and seems to take forever to clear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 I just leave em in the oven... haven't notcied any bad smells, then feed them to the girls when I remember - also great as a slug deterrant!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Don't let them burn! The smell is unforgettable! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogs and chickens Posted April 2, 2008 Author Share Posted April 2, 2008 I have fed them to my girls now. I oven'ed them with a cake (made with just laid eggs ) for five mins, and them grinded them up in the P&M with 1tbsp porridge oats. I found it so funny, I sprinkled it into the run, while one of the hens was happy in the nest box. She clearly heard something was going on and loudly BOK BOKED through the rest of her laying. She came flying out of the nest box and ran up to the others, who by which point had finished the lot She walked round the whole run BOK BOK BOKING for about half an hour . She clearly knew she had missed something good!!! Michelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogs and chickens Posted April 2, 2008 Author Share Posted April 2, 2008 Don't let them burn! The smell is unforgettable! Thanks for the tip, I will be sure to remember! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 I pop mine in the oven after I have been cooking something, then turn it off - that way there's no risk of burning them. When they've cooled I put them in a plastic bag and smash them up with a rolling pin - very satisfying! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 One tip - don't forget and leave them in the oven too long. The smell of burnt eggshell is really disgusting and seems to take forever to clear Amen to that. I left some eggs hard boiling the other night & got distracted by Jake Gylenhall in a movie & they boiled dry,burst & almost caught fire The smell was indescribable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 An easy mistake to make Cinnamon, especially with a distraction I peel the skin out of the shell and then pop them in the oven after I have had it on for something else. Leave them in there overnight and grind them up in the morning. I add it to their afternoon porridge mash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...