[louiseb22]

hi guys was browsing in the pet shop and noticed calcium blocks for budgies and wondered if they would be safe to give to egg laying hens.....have emailed company but wondered if anyone had used them or knew a reason not to? just thought it would be something else for them to peck at and a bit of extra calcium to boot.

[Pip Judgeford]

Mmmm a good lateral idea.  How many chooks do you have? 

I thought the calcium blocks (and sometimes cuttlefish) were so cage birds could keep their beaks sharp, as they dont do all the things that wild birds do that would keep their beaks trimmed? 

Laying pellets usually have a % of calcium in the formula, to support egg laying, along with the right protein proportion.  And I throw in a little crushed oyster grit as well.

Also, I think you may find that hens behaviour is different to budgies ie budgies may know how to use  calcium block and hens know how to scratch on the ground for food?  So hens may not tune in to a calcium block.

=Pip

[evie2]

Hi Louise, that's a good question, I'm sure the chooks would find them interesting

[tesni]

sounds interesting!  If you get one please report back so we know whether or not to get them too!  You are pushing the boundaries of chicken knowledge 

[louiseb22]

thanks pip,i have 6 girls,  i use the layers pellets and oyster grit and the well chicken stuff lol but this morning i found two eggs on the decking....poss first time eggs or at most second...they were broken but seemed quite thin when i picked them up hence my wondering if they needed extra calcium. other eggs have been fine so far but they are safely layed in the nest box...what do you think?
will certainly post reply from company and let you all know the outcome if i use one