In our journey towards sustainable living and organic farming, we’ve discovered innovative ways to recycle and repurpose what most would consider waste. Today, we’re diving into how we transform eggshells from our backyard chickens into a nutritious supplement for their diet.
Why Recycle Eggshells? Eggshells, often discarded as kitchen waste, are a powerhouse of calcium, essential for the health of our chickens and the strength of their eggs. By recycling eggshells back into their diet, we’re closing the loop in our food cycle and ensuring our chickens get the necessary nutrients to lay strong, healthy eggs.
The Process: Washing, Drying, and Crushing Our process begins with carefully washing and drying the eggshells to ensure they’re clean and safe for reuse. Once dried, we crush the shells into a fine powder using a blender. This step is crucial to prevent the chickens from recognizing the eggshells and potentially developing the habit of pecking at their own fresh eggs.
Incorporating Eggshell Powder into the Diet We mix the eggshell powder with their regular feed, which includes adult laying chicken feed and leftover chick feed. This gradual introduction allows our chickens to adapt to the new addition to their diet without any fuss. Even though they had eaten earlier, their interest in the eggshell-mixed feed was evident, showing no hesitation in consuming it.
Adding Variety: Shrimp Shells and Green Beans To further enrich their diet, we also blend shrimp shells and green bean cuttings, adding variety and additional nutrients to their meals. Prepared in the evening, this special blend is often gone by the next day, a testament to its popularity among our feathered friends.
The Benefits: Healthy Chickens and Organic Eggs This practice not only contributes to the health and well-being of our chickens but also ensures that the eggs we collect are of the highest organic quality. It’s a simple yet effective way to enhance the nutritional value of our homegrown produce while practicing eco-friendly farming.
Conclusion Recycling eggshells into chicken feed is more than just a sustainable practice; it’s a commitment to a closed-loop system in our backyard farm. By turning what would be waste into a valuable resource, we’re taking another step towards self-sufficiency and environmental responsibility.
To provide calcium to our egg laying chickens, we gave them their eggshells. There are many people against giving eggshells because they think chickens are going to eat their fresh laid eggs but by crushing them they would never know!！