[katog]

Do you think it would be ok to give human calcium supplement to hens? I don't mean ground up neighbours.
I saw on a thread about soft shells someone gave a calcium supplement which fixed the problem. So I bought some meant for people thinking i could give a couple of drops in food or yog or water.
I looked at the ingredients....so many ...
It's called Osteocare The Ingredients: Purified Water. Sucrose, Sweetener: Sorbitol'.Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium Hydroxide. Suspending agents: Bentonite & Carboxy Methyl Cellulose Sodium.Zinc Gluconate, Natural Flavourings: Mint Oil & Orange Oil,Preservatives: Sodium Methyl Hydroxybenzoate & Sodium Propel Hydroxybenzoate. Emulsifier Polysorbate 80.Riboflavin, Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol). 'May contain traces of gluten.

[shetlandpaul]

whats wrong with oyster shell. it may well be safe to use but its not intended for chickens. i would just go with the traditional methods

[little blue]

bear in mind that after water, the most percentage ingredients are sugar & sweeteners, then calcium.

the only ingredient in that lot that is calcium is the calcium carbonate - limestone.
so just give the girls a lump of rock!!
or the mixed grit/oyster shell which is calcium carbonates in different forms.

[katog]

OK thanks, I do give oyster shell perhaps the soft shells are cos the hens are getting on a bit.

[doganjo]

My hens all have the same diet but some of them you hardly need to look at the egg but the shell breaks, and others you almost need a hammer to!

[northfifeduckling]

someone recommended lime stone powder (+oystershells of course), the stuff you get at feed merchants (not at the garden centre!). I bought it a while ago but forgot the dosage - anyone with a better memory? We have one notorious duck which lays thin, sometimes paper shelled eggs. I am annoyed at having to clear up the mess every morning...I would not use human supplements, too much other ingredients in there.