POULTRY FEEDS AND FEEDING 



stock. Oyster shells provide most of the lime used in 

 making egg shells while growing chicks are also able 

 to assimilate and use some of this lime during their 

 growing period. 



Lime can be supplied more readily by using oyster 

 shells than by attempting to use a soft limestone to 

 furnish both lime and to be used as a grinding surface. 

 Clam and mussel shells have about the same analysis as 

 oyster shells and serve the same purpose in feeding 

 poultry. Select whichever of these two feeds are cheapest, 

 the oyster shells usually being cheaper east of the Missis- 

 sippi and the clam shells being cheaper west of that 

 point. 



Laying hens will eat from 2 to 3 pounds of oyster 

 shells in a year which with the low price of the product 

 makes this feed a small but very important item in the 

 yearly feeding of the hens. The lack of oyster shells 

 in a ration for laying hens will show up rapidly in the 

 production of soft shelled eggs which can be changed 

 quickly by supplying the necessary oyster shells or lime 

 material. Where one desires to supply this material very 

 rapidly the lime may be dissolved in water. Ordinary 

 unslaked stone lime may be dissolved in water and the 

 clear liquid skimmed off and supplied to the fowls. The 

 amount of oyster shells needed and used depends also on 

 the nature of the soil, less oyster shells being required 

 in a limestone soil if the fowls have good range than 

 is necessary in sections where there is no limestone in 

 the soil. 



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