Crushing: Note that most commercial egg producers do NOT offer whole eggs/eggshells to birds, as the birds can learn to eat their own eggs.Some landlords attach shelves to Martin house poles and put eggshells in there. Purple Martin landlords sometimes scatter eggshells on the ground where the birds are picking up mud for nests.Mix finely crushed eggshells with seeds and grains normally put in a bird feeder (e.g., platform feeder).Scatter crushed eggshells on sidewalks, patios, deck railing, a rock, or driveways - anywhere birds can see and find them.You can use a blender/processor to get a finer powder to mix with suet or to toss with mealworms. If you cooked them in the microwave on a paper towel, just smunch it up. Then break into small pieces - don't worry too much about the size but you want it to be big enough for them to pick up with their beak and small enough to swallow - maybe about the size of sunflower seed is good.MICROWAVE: put them on a plate or paper towel in the microwave on high for about 1.5 to 3 minutes (for a dozen, go 3-4 minutes.) (If you don't rinse them first, be prepared for some loud popping noises from residual egg whites.(Note: some people use a 350 F oven, but since commercial oyster shell producers use 250, I figure that is sufficient.) OVEN: Put them on a cookie sheet in a 250 F degree oven for 10 minutes until dry, but not brown.Don't overcook them, as they will turn brown and smell like burnt popcorn. They will also break up more easily if dried. Preparation: It is probably a good idea to sterilize chicken eggshells first, in case they are contaminated with bacteria. You can also buy crushed oyster shells at a feed store - they contain about 38% calcium in a form that is biologically available for eggshell formation. Bluebird parents often eat the eggshells of their hatchlings - perhaps to benefit from the calcium content and also to clean up the nest. Sources: One source you can provide is crushed eggshells. Jump to: Sources | Preparation| Offering | Supplementing Mealworms | How much to Offer | Grit | More Info Consider s upplementing calcium when feeding them to nestlings. Note that Mealworms are calcium depleting. ![]() Laying chickens need about 4 grams of calcium a day to produce quality eggs (source: Butcher, Concepts of Eggshell Quality). Calcium carbonate gives shells hardness and strength. In breeding females, it can cause egg binding or weak eggshells.Ī dry chicken eggshell is about 78-94% calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Lack of calcium can cause weak bones in adults. Calcium deficiency can cause developmental problems in growing birds. to Birds QUICK TIP: Supplement calcium by offering dry, sterilized, crumbled chicken eggshells (or oyster shells) mixed in with mealworms, birdseed, suet, or spread on the ground.īoth young and adult birds need calcium in their diet. to Birds Bluebird and Small Cavity Nester Conservationįeeding Crushed Chicken Eggshells, etc. All rights reserved.Sialis - Calcium - Feeding Eggshells, etc. Children of Morta, the Children of Morta logo, the 11 bit studios logo and the Dead Mage logo are trademarks of 11 bit studios S.A.
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