Lobster shells?

[cindy]

http://www.products4pets.com/store/trea ... bster.html

http://www.evitamins.com/product.asp?pid=10634

Stan, check these out...freeze dried lobster. I wonder if you took pieces of that and ground it in a coffee grinder if it would work, if the birds will eat it.

Did you try the ground lobster shell yet?

I was talking with an old time bird breeder, he told me years ago they use to give the birds fish head to eat, they put them at the bottom of the flights so the birds got extra protien, I imagine they nibble on the scales to.

[okiebirds]

Trimmed shells down to just the exoskeleton, boiled them, them put them in my wife's oven in convection mode at 200 degrees for a hour. Shells were dry and almost like eggshell but not quite as fragile. I then ground them in her Kitchenaid food processor. Here was a problem. The majority of shell broke down into 1/4" to BB sized pieces because the larger size would just float on top of the blades. After 15 minutes I was able to obtain a few grams of powered material. It looks like Im going to have to get a pestle and morter to grind the bulk of the pieces to a size that I want to use.

I used the quarantined birds as my test subjects. These guys are very picky and will only eat seed and a little herb salad. I removed the remainder of their daily seed and put a couple of spoonfulls of processed shell in a seperate dish. They showed no interest as long as I was standing there so I left and peeked in on them a few minutes later and they were going to town on it. Looks like to produce this it will be labor intensive but again the more I read about the minerals and chemical in the shell the more Im convinced that this is going to be a very important supplement.

I was reading the ingredients of a popular premium crushed oyster shell blend and noticed that just about all the ingredients that were added to the oyster shell in this blend already naturally occur in lobster shell. Also a major ingredient found in lobster shell is Astaxanthin which among many benefits includes improved fertility by increasing sperm strength and sperm count in poultry...interesting.

[nirep]

Terrific work Stan!Is that your birds relishing the lobster shell in the picture provided?I have a query about the amount of protein which is said to be around 60%.Can this figure be to high for birds?I guess it depends on the amount they consume.I just know that the optimum protein requirement for raising chicks is in the low twenties.Anyway I am excited also about the source of carotenoid in it great for colouring birds up around their molt time.

[okiebirds]

Yes thats them eating it. Just went back and checked its ALL gone.

[cindy]

Very good....they liked it!! Have you tried a small electric coffee grinder? Target has a small white Mr Coffee one for I believe either $14..99 or $16.99. Break the shell down into small pieces first...it is pretty good at powdering pellets, it might just work on the lobster shell. I know the man in or grocery store/seafood dept. I'll see if he has a few shells left. I think I may try this!!!!

[L in Ontario]

Sure looks like they are chowing down on it. Getting more and more interesting! Congrats on getting them to try it so quickly!

[okiebirds]

Day 2 of testing. Birds have a definite boost in energy. There seems to be no change in their stools and I didnt see any undigested pieces.The two males have never shown any interest in courting. But both were doing the bunny hop today for the first time. One of them kept trying to mount a female. Strange because they've never exhibited this behavior. Its just two days of feeding but I will continue to feed daily, observe and keep notes on their progress.

I ground for a hour today but I think Im going to go invest in the coffee grinder and see if it will do a better job.

Im going to keep collecting more shells and do a larger batch. Those interested in trying it or helping with the testing just drop me a PM with a address. Im particularly anxious to test it during breeding season and see if it helps fertility in our birds as it does in poultry.

Thanks for the ideas and support!!

[L in Ontario]

I'm wondering if there can be too much of a good thing with lobster shells. I would wonder if the males would 'harass' the hens unending...?

[cindy]

It seems like you found a "love potion #9"! It will be interesting to see if the size of the clutches change, have you thought about doing a control group. One group no lobster and the other group gets the divine goodies!

You could document any behavior change, compare it to the group that does not get the shell, note any feather picking, tossing chicks, chick size, clutch size, early weaning/fledging. Do this for two clutches back to back per group offering lobster shell for the entire time.

It would be interesting to see the side by side controlled results.

[L in Ontario]

It would be interesting to see the side by side controlled results.

Agreed!

[okiebirds]

It would be interesting to see the side by side controlled results.

exactly....all the more reason that we need a couple more people to join in on this. I'll provide the material just need some volunteers.

[cindy]

I am reworking a few cages and letting two pairs finish up clutches. What I might do is set up two pairs of shaftails and do the side by side along with two pairs of zebra, maybe owls. I have a friend in the seafood department at Publix and can see if they will save me some shells. I may pick some up next time I do shopping and then store them in airtight bags in the freezer until ready to use them.

What I might also do is to use two pairs that are known baby pluckers (they do this before the chicks even are ready to fledge) to see if it makes a difference in their parenting behavior) I am home full time and can to a time log for the four possibly six pairs.

Perhaps we can make up a chart that everyone involved can use...log in amount, times given, how it is accepted, mating, fertile eggs, hatchlings, how quick to wean, condition of young...etc. Do you have one started?

[okiebirds]

Im just making daily logs right now via notepad on the computer.

[cindy]

May I ask what are you feeding your finches on a daily basis, their staple diet.

[okiebirds]

May I ask what are you feeding your finches on a daily basis, their staple diet.

My other finches eat a varied diet, seed, egg food, greens. But the finches Im feeding the lobster shell to only eat seed. Outside of a little herb salad they've turned their noses up to everything. So for them to take to the shell like they have is very surprising. These are the birds I bought and had shipped from Florida a few weeks ago.