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Most commercial poultry feeds that are specifically made for laying hens will have the right amount of calcium to meet their basic needs plus the additional requirements for making egg shells. However, some birds may need a little bit extra on the side to make sure their calcium levels don’t get too low. This is where the benefit of supplying soluble grit in addition to their diet is useful.
If laying hens don’t have enough calcium, they can develop osteoporosis (weakened bones) from using up their natural stores in bone or they may die suddenly while shelling an egg if their blood calcium levels get too low, which can trigger unusual heart rhythms or seizures.
The best way to supplement calcium is by providing containers that allow free-choice access to one of the following ingredients:
Birds are pretty good at knowing how much extra they need so you don’t need to worry about measuring out specific amounts. Just make sure the containers are available to them at all times while they are awake.
Don’t mix calcium supplements into the main feed because you can easily overdose birds who don’t require it. This is a particular concern for mixed-age flocks that have pullets, laying hens, and retired hens all eating the same feed.
If you are using crushed eggshells, make sure they have been cleaned and dried thoroughly to prevent transmission of any diseases. If you are using crushed eggshells and notice that your birds are starting to peck at eggs in the nest, you may want to switch to a different calcium source.
Sources of calcium to avoid for chickens are milk, dolomite limestone, and agricultural limestone.
As long as your birds are being fed an appropriate commercial diet and provided with free-choice access to a good calcium source, you generally won’t have too many issues.
If your birds aren’t getting enough calcium, you may see some of the following signs:
If your birds are getting too much calcium, you may see some of the following signs:
