Homemade Calcium for Chickens (So EASY!)

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If you’re wondering how to make homemade calcium for chickens, I’ve got you covered!

Ever noticed how easy it is to crack store-bought eggs compared to farm-fresh ones? That’s often because store-bought eggs have thinner shells…

And one thing that leads to thinner shells is less calcium!

Why Do Chickens Need Calcium?

Eggshells are made of mostly calcium carbonate. Chickens need lots of calcium so that their eggshells are thick and unbreakable (well, not totally unbreakable, but you get the idea).

If a chicken doesn’t get enough calcium she may not lay as many eggs or her eggshells may become so weak that they get stuck in the oviduct (called egg-binding), which, like crop issues, can be a serious, and life-threatening problem.

Calcium-deficient chickens may also experience bone weakness or deformities, making them more susceptible to fractures. 

Chicken feed should provide enough calcium for any hen, but just like us humans, each chicken is different and has different dietary needs. Offering supplemental calcium will allow the ladies who need more calcium to get it. That’s where homemade calcium for chickens comes in!

Calcium Deficiency Symptoms

Calcium deficiency can be a serious problem if not noticed and addressed. Here are some symptoms of calcium deficiency in chickens to look out for:

• Soft, thin, or brittle eggshells
• Laying fewer or smaller eggs
• Egg binding (egg stuck in the oviduct)
• Weakness 
• Bone deformities or fractures
• Lameness or difficulty walking
• Poor feather condition
• Egg-eating or feather-eating

Oyster shells are another option for supplemental calcium but hens need more than just calcium for healthy eggs and hard eggshells.

Eggshells contain other mineral such as phosphorus and magnesium. So, my opinion is that the best supplement to support eggshell development is…

Eggshells!

Won’t my Chickens Eat their Eggs if I feed them Eggshells?

There is a rumor going around that if you feed chickens eggshells they will start eating their own eggs.

I have never seen this to be true though. I honestly think that kind of behavior comes from chickens who are bored,don’t have enough space, or are deficient in calcium or another nutrient.

DIY Homemade Calcium for Chickens

I have made homemade calcium for chickens using eggshells in two different ways and I will show you how to do them!

Note: eggshells shouldn’t be fed to baby chicks. Only laying-age hens (5-6 months or older) need added calcium.

Drying Eggshells in Oven

I used to keep a jar for eggshells on my counter for baking eggshells. When I used an egg I would rinse the egg shell and let it dry on the counter for a while before putting it in the jar. If I put wet or eggy shells in the jar, the shells started to smell terrible(!) and would never dry out fully.

When the jar got full, I would dump the eggshells onto a large baking sheet. I baked the eggshells in the oven at 300 degrees for 10 minutes.

When the eggshells came out of the oven I would either throw them into the blender and pulse a few times or just use my mortar and pestle. As long as they are dry you can also just hand-crush them.

Oven drying eggshells makes it much easier to crush them because the inner membrane dries out and can break more easily.

Air Dry Eggshells

Instead of oven drying the eggshells you can also just air dry them.

When you’ve cracked an egg simply rinse and set the egg shells aside to dry. Then when they are dry, you can crush them with your hands.

How to Use Your Homemade Calcium for Chickens

You can add the crushed eggshell to the kitchen scraps you feed your chickens or you can offer it separately. Some people worry that mixing it into kitchen scraps will mean the chickens eat too much calcium.

But in my experience, as long as chickens are fed regularly and have access to a variety of foods (protein, grains, greens, etc.), they won’t eat too much of one thing.

I believe that chickens can instinctively get what their bodies need as long as it’s available. (I mean, they did thrive for many years before domestication, right?)

An Even Better Way To Feed Your Chickens Calcium

Give chickens access to compost!

I no longer go through all of the hassle of oven-drying (or even air-drying) my eggshells. Instead, I will just crush the shells after I’ve used them and toss them in the compost. Sometimes I don’t even crush them.

The reason I used to oven-dry them is the myth that chickens will eat their own eggs if you feed them eggshells, so I wanted to make them look less like eggshells. But since that rumor isn’t true, I just crush the eggshells (or sometimes don’t crush them!) as I toss them into the compost.

I always allow my chickens to have access to the compost pile since they have a symbiotic relationship with it. They eat scraps and bugs from the compost pile while adding manure and helping to turn it.

Letting your chickens roam the compost pile is a great way for them to get extra nutrients naturally. They will find their own calcium from eggshells and other minerals from food scraps, which supports a healthy, balanced diet.

Final Thoughts on Homemade Calcium for Chickens

Feeding your chickens homemade calcium supplements, like crushed eggshells, is an easy and budget-friendly way to keep them healthy and improve egg production.

 It’s especially useful if you have a mixed flock, with roosters, ducks, and other birds, each needing different levels of calcium. This easy solution ensures everyone gets the nutrients they need. 

If you know someone who could benefit from a simple calcium boost for their chickens, be sure to share this tip with them!