Eating ALOT of oyster shell

Learning Finch · Post by **Learning Finch** » Sat Dec 28, 2013 1:29 am

My canary seams to eat ALOT of oyster shell mix. http://www.friskyfinches.com/premium%20 ... %20mix.htm by alot i see her eating it moste of the time. for the last two weeks. I'm going to take it out before she dies... what could be her issue??

30 Seconds to Bob · Post by **30 Seconds to Bob** » Sat Dec 28, 2013 1:48 am

They usually ingest a LOT of extra calcium prior to and diring egg laying. I've had hens devour almost an entire cuttle bone in a little over a week when in breeding season.

Bob

Learning Finch · Post by **Learning Finch** » Sat Dec 28, 2013 11:06 am

Yeah but I'm talking about ALOT. I fill a feeder that holda say 3/4 cup of shell. its gone in two days if thats ok and the bird wont die by eating too much I will refill it. I have filled the feeder twice this past week. I fill it and she darn nears sits and eats...and eats...and eats..

finchlyn · Post by **finchlyn** » Sat Dec 28, 2013 1:42 pm

Calcium cannot really be absorbed and utilized unless the bird has access to sunlight or given vitamin D3. It is possible that her need for calcium is not being met because of this. Without sun/D3 she has no choice but to continue to eat the shell. There are also other sources of calcium that you can offer. You should try something like Morning Bird calcium plus. This is a liquid calcium with vitamin D3 included that can be added to the drinking water.
Your hen may become impacted or possibly starve to death if allowed to continue to eat shells. Sometimes the shells make the hen feel full and therefore she doesn't eat enough seed/eggfood to prevent nutritional problems or worse, starvation.

debbie276 · Post by **debbie276** » Sat Dec 28, 2013 5:31 pm

You also may want to offer her hard boiled eggs for the vitamin D.
good luck

Learning Finch · Post by **Learning Finch** » Sat Dec 28, 2013 6:28 pm

I do give hard boiled egg at least once a week. I will make some just to see if any change. I also have a mineral block and cuttlefish bone in aviary. I add thrive and other vitamins that have d3. I won't add any more oyster shell mix for a couple days to let her tummy settle.

chirpy · Post by **chirpy** » Mon Dec 30, 2013 8:19 pm

I thought mine was eating A LOT of egg shells.. and of course im trying to save all my egg shells when i use eggs

I see that half of the amount is on the floor

FINCHforum

Eating ALOT of oyster shell

Eating ALOT of oyster shell

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