Calcium For Chickens - Nutrition Part 3

Why Calcium?

Eggs, eggs and more eggs! Seriously though, calcium is important. While it helps with egg production, and I am very excited about our hens beginning to lay, there are more serious reasons why you want to avoid a calcium deficiency. Calcium deficiency will effect your hens bone development and cause conditions like "Cage Layer Fatigue". When the diet does not have adequate calcium, the hen will use calcium from its other bones. The weakened bones are damaged and the hen becomes paralyzed.

 

Egg Shells

One of the easiest and most cost effective calcium supplements is - egg shells! Feel weird feeding your hens their own eggs? I thought it was weird at first but it is a great way to recycle. Read more about feeding eggs to your hens: Chicken Nutrition Part 1.

Oyster Shells

Oyster shells are are easy to come by, rich in calcium and affordable. If you place them in a separate feeder, your hens will take what they need. In my opinion it is the easiest way to supplement calcium. Oyster shells do not replace grit. If you're not free ranging your hens make sure you are adding grit.

 

Limestone

Limestone is another great source of calcium and they do have limestone grit that adds a little extra calcium. One of the nice things about limestone is you can give larger granules of it and they will sit in the gizzard and provide a slow release of calcium carbonate. Most layer pellet uses limestone to provide calcium so I prefer using the oyster shell as a supplement and using regular grit.

 

Fruits

Fruits are great treats for hens but are high in sugar so you should not feed them too much. Generally chickens don't like anything citrus and I know citrus is bad for ducks so I don't feed it to them.

Fruits that are a great source of calcium:

Dried Fig

Dates

Kumquats

Apricots

Oranges 

Kiwi

 

Vegetables and Plants

Vegetables and plants that are a great source of nutrition. I am sure you already give plenty of those to your hens. Here is a list of vegetables will also boost calcium levels:

Arugala

Mustard Greens

Chard

Collard Greens

Kale

Broccoli
Cabbage
Summer squash
Green beans
Brussel sprouts

Asparagus

Okra 

Tomatoes (but no tomato plants!)

 

Dairy

We all know milk builds strong bones! Dairy is a great source of calcium and these are safe choices for your hens:

Cheese

Cows Milk

Goats Milk

Yogurt

*Dairy can be hard to digest sometimes though, so make sure if you  notice an upset that you cut back on the dairy*

 

Herbs, Spices and Seeds

I am very interested in how herbs, spice and seeds can be used to supplement our hens' diet. I enjoy learning about nature provides everything we and our chickens need to survive in proper balances! We don't pay enough attention to "home remedies." Here are some chicken-safe things to try that are high in calcium:

Basil

Thyme - also great for respiratory health, antibacterial, antioxidant

Dill seed - also great for respiratory health, antioxidant and relaxing

Cinnamon - also used to treat diarrhea

Peppermint leaves - also great for parasites and insect control

Sesame seeds - great source of protein

 

 

Layer Feed 

While I love the idea of completely free ranging my hens, I know the only way to guarantee my hens get everything they need is to provide a formulated Layer Pellet. This ensures that they are getting the right balance of vitamins and minerals. I believe a balance of supplements, layer pellet and free ranging is the best way to give my hens the quality nutrition they deserve.   

We feed Nutrena Nature Wise Layer Pellet. It has a balanced ratio with 3.7-3.9% calcium and 0.45% phosphorus. While this should keep my hens nutritional needs met, the feeding instructions does recommend that when pullets begin to lay that you add a calcium supplement (such as oyster shells). While the formula is based on the average chicken needs, your hens will know if they need the extra calcium and will take what they need to supplement.

More Than Just Calcium

 

Vitamin D3

Vitamin D3 is very important in the absorption of calcium. Vitamins and minerals work together and if you don't have the right balance, it doesn't matter if your hens are swimming in calcium - they won't get any of it. Vitamin D3 is produced when their skin comes in contact with sunshine so make sure your hens are getting out of the coop!

 

Phosphorus

Phosphorus is found in grains and cereals and is formulated into chicken feed. Chances are your hens will never suffer a phosphorus deficiency because the foods we feed them are naturally high in phosphorus. Phosphorus is used by the body to develop the skeleton, cells, membranes, body fluids and energy supply. It transfers fatty acids and is involved in the making of amino acids, RNA and DNA. We can't live without it but it is also important to not get too much. 

Calcium and phosphorus work together to form calcium phosphate which makes up the skeleton. They work in a perfect balance. If there is too much calcium, you will see a phosphorus deficiency which will disrupt metabolic systems. If there is too much phosphorus, it will leach the calcium from areas that it is needed (the beak, egg production). Formulated chicken feed has IFP - Inorganic Feed Phosphates in it, making additional phosphorus supplements do more harm than good. 

Here is a list of high phosphorus foods. Make sure these foods are given in moderation and that 90% of your chicken's diet is a balanced formula.

 

Bran

Cereals

Cheese

Mushrooms

Popcorn

Seeds (Squash Seed, Sunflower Seeds, Chia Seeds, Sesame Seeds, Watermelon Seeds, Flaxseed, Mustard Seed)

Soybean

Whey

Whole Grains

 

No Mixing!

Your chicken feed is formulated with safe levels of calcium. Too much calcium is a bad thing. Our hens need everything in moderation. That is why roosters and young chicks do not eat layer pellet. It would be nice if we could just boost the calcium levels of the layer pellet and not have to worry about supplements, but that would cause dangerous levels of calcium. So do NOT mix oyster shell in their feed.

So how do we safely supplement?

Luckily, our girls know what they need. Just like we have cravings, the hens know when they need extra calcium. Provide your hens with supplements that they can choose to skip if they want to. If you leave a separate feeder with grit and oyster shells they will do the work for you and take what they need! This way they are never calcium deficient and they aren't getting high doses of calcium in their regular feed.

Please share your comments, thoughts and stories!