[Wyandottie]

Hello all, I have just purchased a small bag of Poultry grit from my local feed and pet food suppliers.  It seems to be a mixture of grit with small pieces of what looks like sea-side shells.  Can I safely assume that these are bits of oyster shell, or should I be looking for a separate product?  I am saving all my egg shells to bake and grind - will these provide calcium for the girls?  Thanks for your help - this is a wonderful website!

[poultrygeist]

Hi Wyandottie.

I think it's a different sort of shell or even a 'mock' shell but sounds like the sort I have.
It claims to be a mix of flint and limestone which should dissolve and provide extra calcium. I also have some limestone flour for occasional sprinkling onto their pellets.

Rob

[Aunt Sally]

I use poultry grit and also crushed oyster shell (oystra).  The shell in poultry grit is often cockle shell which is not so good as a source of calcium for the chooks

[shiatsusu]

Hello all, I have just purchased a small bag of Poultry grit from my local feed and pet food suppliers.  It seems to be a mixture of grit with small pieces of what looks like sea-side shells.  Can I safely assume that these are bits of oyster shell, or should I be looking for a separate product?  I am saving all my egg shells to bake and grind - will these provide calcium for the girls?  Thanks for your help - this is a wonderful website!

Does it say anywhere on the bag what type of shell so you'd know for sure, or you could phone the manufacturer direct

[Aunt Sally]

Cockle shell has ridges on it and oyster doesn't.

[Aunt Sally]

Cockle shell



Oyster Shell (with a bit of cockle sherll in it)

[cathangirl]

Ooh, Aunt Sally, I will be taking a closer look at my grit and oyster shell mix tomorrow.  I have a feeling we've been diddled, as I think our shell bits are crinkly.  Drat!
cathangirl

[Aunt Sally]

There will be a few crinkly bits in it but as long as most of it is greyish and a bit powery like the bottom picture it will be fine. 

The top picture shell is only good for making flower pots look pretty 

[Wyandottie]

Thank you all, particularly Aunt Sally for the pics.  There are no ingredients labelled on the packaging, however the contents look exactly like the second of the two pictures posted, so I think I do have oyster shell.  Once again - many thanks!

[shiatsusu]

Cockle shell has ridges on it and oyster doesn't.

Really useful aunty S- I'm going to get some grit and will bear that in mind