We inherited some of our chickens when we moved, and they never had any access to oyster shell which is super crucial to keep them healthy and laying. Their eggshells weren’t as firm as they should’ve been and they weren’t laying that well. If you don’t understand the importance of grit and oyster shell, then keep reading.
We will start by talking about grit. Grit is tiny crushed-up pieces of granite. The purpose of grit is to help your chickens digest their food. Since chickens don’t have teeth to grind down their food the grit acts like their teeth. The chickens will swallow the grit which will then go down into the gizzard. Once it’s in the gizzard it will sit-in there grinding up the food with the stones making it easy for them to digest the food. If chickens are without grit they will not be able to properly digest their food which can lead to death. Both hens and roosters need grit. Even little chicks need it when they begin eating other foods besides their grain.
Now that you know what grit is, let’s talk about what oyster shell is. Oyster shell is exactly what it sounds like, it is the shell from oysters. The purpose of oyster shell is to provide calcium to your hens so that they lay eggs. Without oyster shell, your hens may die because the shell of the egg will be so soft that it could get stuck. One day I walked out to the coop and I was terrified by what I saw, it was a badly deformed egg that thankfully she was able to get out of her system. This happened before she had access to oyster shell because it was the day that we inherited them. Only your laying hens need oyster shell so don’t worry if you don’t see your rooster eating it. We use old chick feeders to store their grit and oyster shell and it works really well for us.
Now, do you understand the importance of oyster shell? I am so grateful that she didn’t die, because that could’ve been really bad. Those are just some of the reasons why oyster shell and grit are super important for your chickens.
Other articles that you may like:
- How to keep your chickens cool in the heat of summer
- Treats to keep your chickens warm this winter
- Why you need to store your eggs pointy side down
The 1912 Homestead 