[Beejay]

Can anybody tell me why the eggshells I put in my compost heap don't rot down 

[poultrygeist]

They would do given time but because they're very hard, they don't don't break down so easily.

Rob

[wafflycat]

Well they won't 'rot' as they are mineral as opposed to vegetable matter. They will break into smaller pieces and work into the compost and have an effect of adding their mineral content to the compost, but they won't 'rot' in the same way as vegetable matter.

Mine get into the compost heap in the form of chicken poo, as I feed mine back to the hens. I wash the shells out then bake them in a hot oven for about 30mins, then crush them to a powder in a pestle & mortar and incorporate them back into the hen feed.

[Stripey_cat]

They incorporate better if you crush them in your hands before they go in.

[andreadon]

They incorporate better if you crush them in your hands before they go in.

ditto

Well they won't 'rot' as they are mineral as opposed to vegetable matter. They will break into smaller pieces and work into the compost and have an effect of adding their mineral content to the compost, but they won't 'rot' in the same way as vegetable matter.

ditto

[Beejay]

They incorporate better if you crush them in your hands before they go in.

I do. Thanks for the  replies