Product Description
Essential Calcium Supplement for Strong, Healthy Eggshells
Ensure your laying hens produce beautiful, strong-shelled eggs with Manna Pro Oyster Shell! This premium calcium supplement is a must-have for any backyard chicken keeper with laying hens. Made from crushed oyster shells, this all-natural product provides the essential calcium hens need to form strong eggshells and maintain optimal bone health. The 5 lb bag offers excellent value and convenience, keeping your flock supplied with this vital nutrient.
Why Calcium Matters:
Laying hens have exceptionally high calcium requirements. Each eggshell they produce requires approximately 2 grams of calcium, and hens can't produce this mineral internally—they must obtain it from their diet. Without adequate calcium, hens will produce thin-shelled, soft, or shell-less eggs, and may even pull calcium from their own bones, leading to serious health problems. Manna Pro Oyster Shell provides the solution.
Key Benefits:
- Prevents Thin or Soft Eggshells: Provides essential calcium for strong shell formation
- Supports Bone Health: Maintains skeletal strength in laying hens
- Free-Choice Format: Hens consume what they need, when they need it
- All-Natural Source: Pure crushed oyster shells with no additives
- Optimal Particle Size: Easy for hens to consume and digest
- 5 lb Value Size: Cost-effective for regular feeding programs
- Trusted Quality: From Manna Pro, a leader in poultry nutrition for over 100 years
- Easy to Use: Simply offer in a separate container
How Oyster Shell Works:
Unlike calcium in regular feed, oyster shell provides calcium in a form that's slowly released in the hen's digestive system. This gradual release ensures calcium is available throughout the night when eggshells are being formed. The coarse particle size also helps retain the calcium in the gizzard longer, allowing for optimal absorption during the critical shell-forming hours.
Perfect For:
- Laying hens of all breeds
- Free-range flocks with access to varied diets
- Hens producing thin or weak eggshells
- Older hens with increased calcium needs
- Supporting peak egg production
- Preventing calcium deficiency
- Maintaining optimal flock health
- Year-round calcium supplementation
Signs Your Hens Need Oyster Shell:
- Thin, fragile, or easily cracked eggshells
- Soft-shelled or shell-less eggs
- Rough or pitted eggshell texture
- Decreased egg production
- Hens eating their own eggs
- Lethargy or weakness
- Bone problems or lameness
Free-Choice Feeding:
The best way to offer oyster shell is "free-choice" in a separate container from regular feed. This allows each hen to consume the amount she individually needs based on her calcium requirements. Some hens will eat more, some less—their bodies naturally regulate intake. Never mix oyster shell into feed, as this can lead to over-consumption by non-laying birds.
Who Should Eat Oyster Shell:
Yes - Laying Hens: Essential for active egg production
No - Chicks: Too much calcium can harm developing kidneys
No - Pullets (under 18 weeks): Wait until point of lay
No - Roosters: Don't need extra calcium
Limited - Non-Laying Hens: May consume small amounts, which is fine
How to Use:
- Provide oyster shell in a separate container or feeder
- Place near the regular feed and water
- Allow hens free access at all times
- Refill as needed—hens will self-regulate consumption
- Keep dry and protected from moisture
Expected Consumption:
An average laying hen will consume approximately 2-3 grams of oyster shell per day, though individual needs vary. The 5 lb bag will last approximately 30-45 days for a small flock of 4-6 laying hens, longer for smaller flocks or shorter for larger ones.
Particle Size:
Manna Pro Oyster Shell features an optimal particle size—coarse enough to remain in the gizzard for slow calcium release, yet small enough for hens to consume comfortably. This balanced sizing ensures maximum effectiveness and palatability.
The Manna Pro Difference:
With over a century of experience in animal nutrition, Manna Pro understands what chickens need to thrive. Their oyster shell is carefully processed to ensure consistent quality, optimal particle size, and maximum calcium availability. It's the trusted choice of backyard chicken keepers and professional poultry producers alike.
Storage:
Store in a cool, dry place in the original bag or an airtight container. Protect from moisture to maintain quality and prevent clumping. Properly stored, oyster shell has an indefinite shelf life.
Beyond Eggshells:
While strong eggshells are the most visible benefit, adequate calcium also supports:
- Proper muscle function and nerve transmission
- Blood clotting ability
- Enzyme activation and metabolic processes
- Overall skeletal health and strength
- Optimal reproductive health
Give your laying hens the calcium they need for beautiful, strong eggs with Manna Pro Oyster Shell!
INGREDIENTS
Oyster Shell
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
Calcium (min) ..................... 36.0%
Calcium (max) ..................... 38.0%
FEEDING DIRECTIONS
Method: Free-choice in separate container
Who: Laying hens only (18+ weeks of age)
Amount: Allow hens to self-regulate intake
Location: Place near regular feed and water
Frequency: Keep available at all times
IMPORTANT NOTES
- Do NOT mix into regular feed
- Not for chicks or young pullets under 18 weeks
- Provide fresh, clean water at all times
- Continue offering quality layer feed as primary diet
- Oyster shell is a supplement, not a complete feed
- Store in a dry location to prevent moisture absorption