[jackie]

my girls are on layers pellets. we also mix oyster shell in with this and they have a seperate bowl of oyster shell. should they also be having grit?

[Kazoo]

Hi Jackie

I believe they need both - oyster shell for calcium and grit to help break down the food in the crop (if thats wrong someone will correct me!).  My hens free range so I don't provide grit as they find enough naturally.

Kazoo

[TeaPots]

u shouldnt need to MIX in the extras, but a container with BOTH oystershell(soluble) and grit(insoluble) can be left as available for them. If hens are freeranging, and on a good quality layers pellets, it is likely that they they will find any grit they need whilst foraging, and calcium is in the pellets, so it really SHOULDNT be needed.

[jackie]

they are in a part covered run with wood bark when i am out. when i'm at home they have the run of my garden

[Jeanette]

  Both.

[Sue33]

are you having problems with soft shelled eggs?  If not,  i wouldn't be too concerned.   One of our girls was laying soft eggs recently and we introduced oyster shell grit to them, seems to have solved the problem 

[jackie]

thats really wierd cos i had my first soft shell today, all squidgy and broken in the nest box. they have loads of oyster shell tho. the grit wouldnt have made a difference would it?

[joyfull]

the grit is purely to help them grind their food up 

[Henlady]

off shopping again for my girls then as I was only giving them oyster shell, but they do free range all day.  One is laying soft shells but the other 2 that are laying are producing nice strong shells.

[ehs284]

Our hooligans are free ranging, but still have a grit/shell mix available. They do take from this pot - noticeably after having a treat of hand-held corn. After the corn they drink and then eat the grits/shells.