Bluesman
Pigeon Fancier
6 posts
Apr 03, 2005
5:17 AM
|
I wanted to get some Oyster shell grit for my breeders.The Feed Mill said they didn,t handle Oyster Shell Grit anymore that everyone switched to Calcium.Around 6.00 for 50 pound.They said all the chicken people went with this to make the egg shells harder.
Is there a difference between the 2 and/or is it safe to use for rollers? David
|
rollerpigeon
Site Moderator
252 posts
Apr 03, 2005
9:05 AM
|
Hey David, grit in its different forms contains levels of calcium either added or natural. The idea of calcium supplements is the levels available in these grit forms may not be sufficiently metabolized by the bird leading to concerns over soft eggshells and other health consequences.
My opinion is that if you can get a grit that provides adequate calcium, fine, but if you cannot, using a supplement is better anyway as the providers of these supplements report it is more efficiently utilized by the bird.
So getting back to the grit, as you know it is necessary as a digestive aid in hulling seeds but not necessarily for providing calcium. Use any grit you can get that the birds will consume and simply provide that other calcium product the chicken people are using and in my opinion all will be fine.
David, in what form is the 50lbs of calcium and how is it to be given?
FLY ON! Tony Chavarria
FYI: Here is an interesting article that will shed more light on your question: CALCIUM
Last Edited by rollerpigeon on Apr 03, 2005 9:06 AM
|
Bluesman
Pigeon Fancier
9 posts
Apr 04, 2005
4:57 PM
|
Tony.Got a bag of that Calcium today.On the bag it says it is for poultry and it makes the eggshells harder and more hatchability.It is in a Chip form and is 39% calcium & 1% magnesium. It says to feed free choice to poultry or can be mixed 50 pound to a ton of feed.
That was a very good article on Calcium you found.I don,t know how you fellows come up with all these good sites & articles.LOL.
Anyway I think I am going to try the rollers on a one time per week trial run with this calcium.
I had 2 eggs last week that were soft shell and today I had a hen lay her second egg which was good but her legs are weak.Someone said this was a sign of Calcium loss???
I feed the red pigeon grit free choice all the time.Anytime they want it it is there.This is the first I have seen any soft shells in last 5 years.I have been fostering a lot of eggs from this pair tho. David
|
rollerpigeon
Site Moderator
255 posts
Apr 06, 2005
6:37 AM
|
David, are your birds liking the calcium? Are you giving them all they want or mixing it? How about the hen that was having trouble, she getting any better in the legs?
Is it possible she had some kind of injury or did you rule that out? Just wondering...FLY ON! Tony CHavarria
|
Bluesman
Pigeon Fancier
10 posts
Apr 06, 2005
10:39 AM
|
Tony.Yes the birds are eating it.They are not going wild over it but they have been picking around on it some.I think since they had the red grit before them they just didn,t want much of it.
The hen that was off her legs is now back up and doing fine.I don,t think it was an injury.She is in a breeding cage.That was a new one on me.She seemed healthy and alert but her legs just wouldn't support her.She is a new hen in my breeding program so I will watch her close the next time she lays eggs.She may have had a hard time laying the egg.I am going to rest her for a week and then put the cock back in with her.
I think just giving it to the breeders one day a week will be plenty of extra calcium for them and won,t hurt them.David
|
