Crushed egg shell vs oyster

[Thomas Maddox]

Is one better than the other for the PMs?

[Jones4381]

Some know chickens benefit more from the slow release of calcium from oyster shells as a recognized better alternative to dried crushed egg shells and its quick release of calcium back to the bird....BUT we ain't talking chickens here and since the needs are quite different (Chickens can lay up to 300 days a year compared to a martin laying only 2-7 eggs annually I personally use dried crushed egg shells on a feeder platform but I'm a big believer in recycling etc. I'll admit that with the low price of oyster shell, having it in a bag and ready to go (not dealing with oven baking the crushed egg shells), are strong arguments to use it in stead of eggs. I'd think the birds will appreciate and benefit from either. Let us know what you decide.

Here is a cool link I remembered and saved that makes the case for clam shells in lieu of either...some pretty cool other links from this site. enjoy. http://www.americanartifacts.com/smma/p ... Shells.htm

[Thomas Maddox]

Thanks Jones! I got a small bag of it at Tractor Supply yesterday. I poured it in a feeding tray and placed it on a Shepards hook. I also put the few egg shells I had in the tray. Hopefully they find it and can use it.

[Jones4381]

T Maddox I think i'm going to do the same when we get birds up here....I have a tractor supply about 2 miles away by the crow flies. Be curious to see if they choose one over the other first...Take care

[Larry A Kronemeyer]

We use crushed egg shellls after we heat the egg shells to 200* for 20 minutes to sterlize. We try oyster shells occasionally but they clump and get hard acter a rain then wind up in our gravel driveway.