Feeding Grit and Oyster Shell to Chickens: What You Need to Know
When you visit a feed store, you’ll often see bags of grit and oyster shell next to chicken feed. They’re not just extras, they play important roles in your flock’s health. Let’s break down what they do and how to offer them correctly.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Oyster shell provides essential calcium for strong eggshells; offer it free-choice for laying hens.
- Grit helps chickens digest food; they need it if they eat grains, greens, or bugs.
- Keep oyster shell and grit available; they’re not interchangeable and serve different purposes.
- Check your flock’s dietary needs and provide these supplements accordingly for optimal health.
What Is Oyster Shell and Why Do Chickens Need It?
Oyster shell is a calcium supplement that supports strong eggshells. Most layer feeds already contain calcium, but individual hens have different needs. By offering oyster shell free-choice, your hens can eat it when they need extra calcium. If they ignore it, it simply means they’re getting enough from their feed.
Important tip: Do not provide oyster shell to meat birds like Cornish Cross. They don’t need the extra calcium and may overconsume it.
Why Chickens Need Grit for Healthy Digestion
Chickens don’t have teeth, so they rely on grit—tiny rocks stored in the gizzard—to grind food. If your flock eats only pellets or crumbles, grit isn’t essential. But if they consume grains, greens, or bugs, grit is a must. Without it, digestion suffers and birds can become ill.
Free-ranging birds often find grit naturally, but in winter or snowy conditions, it’s hard to find outdoors. Keeping a dish of grit available is an inexpensive way to protect your flock’s health.
How to Offer Grit and Oyster Shell
- Oyster Shell: Keep it available at all times for laying hens.
- Grit: Offer free-choice, especially if birds eat whole grains or forage.
- Rule of Thumb: When in doubt, put it out.
