3 Benefits of Oyster Shells for Chickens

Oyster shells are crucial for chickens. If you’ve been curious about whether or not you should be feeding your chickens oyster shells, this post will explain all of the benefits!

For as long as I can remember, I have fed my chickens oyster shells. My grandpa, who I consider an expert on raising chickens, always emphasized how important it was, and I have personally seen the benefits.

But if you’re new to raising chickens or even a long-time chicken owner, you may still wonder why your chickens need oyster shells.

What Is the Benefit of Oyster Shell?

The primary benefit of oyster shells is that they are an excellent source of calcium. 

Chickens, especially layers, need calcium to form sturdy eggshells. When hens don’t get enough calcium, they’ll start pulling it from their own bones, which can lead to health issues over time. 

By providing oyster shells, you’re supporting their overall health and egg production and ensuring they’re in top shape.

Why Are Oyster Shells Good for Chickens?

Oyster shells are great for chickens because they provide a much-needed calcium boost. Calcium is essential for laying hens, as it helps them produce strong eggshells. 

Without enough calcium, chickens can lay eggs with thin or brittle shells, which can easily break. So, by offering oyster shells, you’re helping ensure your hens lay healthy, strong eggs!

Adding oyster shells to your hens’ diet is extremely important. There are other things you need to feed your chickens such as layer feed for egg production and fresh herbs for extra health benefits.

However, providing oyster shells for your hens to eat will ensure optimal hen health and egg production by providing them with a good supply of calcium.

Below, I’ll go over the three most important benefits. 

1.) Oyster Shells Produce Strong Eggshells

Nobody wants an egg that breaks in the nesting box or simply falls apart when you handle it. So, to ensure that your hen can lay eggs with strong shells, she needs a diet high in calcium.

Eggshells are about 95% calcium, so it’s no wonder why laying hens need a calcium supplement.

2.) It Helps Hens Stay Strong and Healthy 

When laying hens do not receive enough calcium, their bodies begin removing it from their bones. This can then lead to weak and brittle-boned chickens.

3.) Oyster Shells Help With Continued Egg Production

If you’ve noticed that your hens are not laying there are a few reasons why, such as she may be molting, she may be too young still or getting too old, or she needs additional calcium.

Signs of calcium deficiency in hens include,

1. Eggs with thin shells.
2. Eggs with soft shells.
3. Slow egg production.
4. Eggs with no shell.
5. Broken eggs.

Guide to Feeding Oyster Shells to Your Chickens

First off, only laying hens need additional calcium; roosters do not. In fact, excess calcium can be harmful to chickens that don’t use the extra calcium to produce eggs.

So, let’s start with when to begin feeding oyster shells to your flock.

When to Start Feeding Oyster Shells?

When your hens are approaching laying time which is anywhere from 18-22 weeks of age. Or as soon as you notice that they’ve started laying.

How Much Oyster Shell Should I Give My Chickens?

The simple answer to this question is as much as they need.

You don’t need to measure out exact amounts of oyster shell; just provide it free-choice. This means offering it in a separate dish, and your chickens will take what they need. They’re pretty good at regulating their own calcium intake. 

It’s important not to mix it directly into their feed, as the chickens who don’t need extra calcium (like roosters or non-layers) might end up getting too much. 

Layer feed has a good amount of calcium, and for some chickens, that will give them plenty. But for others, they’ll need extra.

So the best thing to do is give them free choice. 

Put the oyster shell in its own separate dish or feeder and always keep it available. Chickens will never overeat on it, their bodies instinctively know when they need additional calcium and so they’ll only eat it as needed. Keep it simple and let them decide!

You should be able to find flaked oyster shells at your local feed store, but if not, they even sell oyster shells on Amazon.

Additional Ways to Provide Calcium for Chickens

You may have heard about other chicken owners feeding their own eggshells back to their hens. There are both negative and positives about doing so.

One negative belief is that hens will then try to eat their own eggs.

A positive is that you’re being resourceful and still providing a good source of calcium.

For many years eggshells have been fed back to their hens to eat and so I don’t see it as a problem. I believe that practices that have been around for a long time tend to be pretty smart.

However, if you decide to feed the eggs shells back to your hens then just make sure that you first wash off the yolk, dry them out, and crush them up.

Don’t just throw an egg on the ground and let them eat it. Once they start to enjoy the taste of the eggs they’ll want to eat their own.

I’ve had quite a few egg-eating hens over the years so trust me on that one.

List of Calcium-Rich Foods to Feed Your Chickens

1. Broccoli
2. Brussels Sprouts
3. Butternut Squash
4. Chard
5. Collards
6. Dandelion Greens
7. Green Beans
8. Kale
9. Mustard Greens
10. Okra
11. Parsley
12. Podded Peas
13. Spinach

Do Oyster Shells Count as Grit for Chickens?

No, oyster shells and grit are two different things, though both are important. Oyster shell provides calcium, while grit helps chickens digest their food. 

Chickens don’t have teeth, so they need grit—small, hard particles like sand or tiny rocks—to help break down food in their gizzards. 

While oyster shells break down easily to release calcium, grit stays in the gizzard to aid digestion. So, you need to offer both.

Additional Supplements to Add to Your Chicken’s Diet

Grit is another important part of a chicken’s diet. Grit is not only for hens but also for all backyard chickens.

Grit and oyster shells are two completely separate things and each serves its own purpose.

• Oyster shell is specifically for laying hens to provide them with the extra calcium needed.
• Poultry grit helps the chicken’s digestive tract by putting its food into a usable form.

Chickens don’t have teeth so the grit is what helps to break down their food. After a chicken eats the grit it settles in its gizzard and stays there to grind food.

You can learn more about feeding grit here.

In summary, as long as you’re providing your chickens with oyster shell, grit, and a good quality layer feed, you’ll have a healthy flock of chickens and wonderful fresh eggs with strong shells.

Why Your Laying Hens Need Oyster Shell

Want to Learn More About the Best-Laying Hens?

Be sure to head to this post here, The Best Chickens for Eggs.

Or even the best chicken breeds for beginners? There are some breeds that I’ll always keep in my flock so be sure to learn about them in this post here, Best Chicken Breeds for Beginners.