Egg shells

[matcho]

Fishdance,

I go across the road to my local sandwich store and ask them to save the eggshells that they use on a daily basis.When I tell them what they are for they are really obliging! Admittedly they are mostly boiled eggshells but there are some raw ones mixed in. I just take them home and nuke for 5-7 minutes. Any part of moist bits dry out and the shells get real crispy. My birds love it. Give it a try. No problems here.

[matcho]

Fishdance,

Just read through this post. You don't have a microwave and you encourage your kids to eat dirt so therefore I am thinking that you don't have a sandwich shop nearby. Just save your shells from the eggs that you have eaten raw and put them in your wood fired oven for 20 minutes or so. Simple. Problem solved.

[KENTUCKY]

I have fed raw Egg Shells to my Gouldians for fourty years with no ill effect what sort ever, the Experts can tell you whatever they want to tell you, fourty years of expiriance you cannot argue with, here is what I do, give the Egg a good rinse under luke warm water to wash off residue chemicals, crack the egg into a container for your own consumption, place raw egg shell into your aviary and stand back, I will not tell you what happens next, just stand back and observe replentish when almost all is eaten, if feeding youngsters don t let them be without it as egg white is protein in a very pure form.
If you should use an egg that has come straight out of a Chooks Bum and dont deal with it correctly you are asking for it, a anti biotic should always be in your medicine cabinet wether you need it or not does not matter.

[mickw]

Vette, Myzo, croc & match..........I'm listening

[vettepilot_6]

Vette, Myzo, croc & match..........I'm listening

?? listening for what?

[vettepilot_6]

I have fed raw Egg Shells to my Gouldians for fourty years with no ill effect what sort ever, the Experts can tell you whatever they want to tell you, fourty years of expiriance you cannot argue with, here is what I do, give the Egg a good rinse under luke warm water to wash off residue chemicals, crack the egg into a container for your own consumption, place raw egg shell into your aviary and stand back, I will not tell you what happens next, just stand back and observe replentish when almost all is eaten, if feeding youngsters don t let them be without it as egg white is protein in a very pure form.
If you should use an egg that has come straight out of a Chooks Bum and dont deal with it correctly you are asking for it, a anti biotic should always be in your medicine cabinet wether you need it or not does not matter.

Kentucky what works for one could be disastrous for another...beaware the climate you are in is less prone to bacteria etc then us up here in warmer climates....when doing things in your aviary it may be advantageous to look at the location of others....I find I would be very wary of raw eggs in climate such as ours

[E Orix]

I think you could put a 100 year old egg shell in with Gouldians and they would swarm over it.
Personally I bake mine and have done so for years,no scientific reason possibly because that was what I was taught by the
old brigade. That aside I feel that it is better to be sure than sorry and putting them in an oven for a short time is not a hassle anyway.
I also agree that there are people who keep their birds in a too sterile situation which can be as bad as a squallid situation.
Why because the birds loose their ability to fight problems unaided.

[COUNTRY CAPITAL]

i am on the fence with this one....sorry.
i know its an easy/no-brainer to nuke the shells before feeding out but....
Of all the birds bred in our aviaries how many empty egg shells do you find? with mine its not many so parent birds are eating raw egg shells like it or not.
i know they may not be disease-ridden chickens but i can't see a real difference.
am i wrong ....form a que here....

[fishdance]

I have been feeding raw egg shells to one cage of gouldians for almost 6 months now but it's getting warmer in Brisbane.
Just limited to one cage for now but thinking of feeding others. Its quite wasteful energywise to use an oven just to cook empty shells IMO. Unless it's essential. And saving up raw egg shell to make it more economical also has risks.
I was looking for people who have had problems first hand feeding raw egg shell. I realise the more experienced and more skilled you become, the more you can bend beginner rules. Thanks for all opinions and input.

I have 2 vets and 2 doctors in my family. Personal experiences from experienced birdkeepers still important
Winston

[vettepilot_6]

a small eggshells such as finches would last no time at all never mind trying to remove it by end of day....but a hens egg up here partially eaten and the rest left till end of day...I will continue to nuke....and like I said before what works for one may not work for another...