04/09/2026
♻️🥚 Recycling Eggshells for My Laying Hens = Extra Calcium 🐔
Instead of throwing our eggshells away, I save them and turn them back into a calcium supplement for my girls. 🥚➡️🐔
Here’s how I do it:
1️⃣ Save the shells
After we use our eggs, I keep the empty shells in a basket until I have enough to process.
2️⃣ Crush them down
I break them into smaller pieces so they’re easier to rinse, dry and store.
3️⃣ Rinse them
This step is optional, but I personally like rinsing off any egg residue before drying them.
4️⃣ Dry them COMPLETELY
You can let them air/sun dry for about 1–2 days, or place them in the oven at 350°F for around 10 minutes.
5️⃣ Crush them again
Once completely dry, I crush them into much smaller pieces so they no longer resemble eggshells.
6️⃣ Store them
I reuse a clean, completely dry container instead of buying another one. ♻️
7️⃣ Give them back to the hens
I offer the crushed shells as an extra calcium source alongside their regular layer feed, so the laying hens can take what they need.
🥚 Why give laying hens extra calcium?
🐔 Helps support strong eggshell formation
🥚 Can help prevent thin or fragile shells when additional calcium is needed
🐔 Helps replace calcium hens use while producing eggs
♻️ Reuses something we would normally throw away
💰 And it’s basically a free calcium source we already have at home!
Their regular balanced layer feed is still the important part of their diet — the eggshells are just supplemental calcium, not a replacement for their food.
From chicken ➡️ kitchen ➡️ back to chicken. 😂♻️🐔
Do you save your eggshells or throw them away?
