Lobster is a delicacy and enjoyed by many people around the world. Most people will eat just the meat of the lobster. As for the shell, it will get thrown away since it’s not edible. If you own backyard chickens, instead of throwing them away, you may wonder if your chickens can eat lobster shells.
So, can chickens eat lobster shells? Yes, chickens can eat lobster shells. It’s high in calcium content, which is great for chickens that require a lot of calcium in their diets, such as egg-laying hens and baby chickens. The shells are safe for chickens to eat, but you want to crush them into tiny pieces so that they will be easy for them to digest.
Is It Safe to Feed Chickens Lobster Shells?
It depends on how you feed them the lobster shells. If you give them the entire shell, the chickens may peck at it and some of the pieces may get stuck in their throat. Also, it will be hard for them to digest large pieces of lobster shell.
On the other hand, if you break the shell into small pieces, about the size of grits, it should be safe for your chickens.
Why Feed Your Chickens Lobster Shells?
Lobster is tasty and expensive seafood. For that reason, most people will eat lobster meat and throw away the shell.
Instead of throwing away the lobster shell, you can give them to your chickens. Lobster shells contain an essential nutrient that the chickens require in order to stay healthy. The shell has a good content of calcium.
In order for chickens to properly digest their food, they will need grits in their diet. Some commercial grits will add calcium to the mix for hens that are laying eggs. Since egg-laying hens require a lot of calcium in their diet, it makes perfect sense.
Lobster shells provide the chickens with plenty of calcium.
Can Baby Chickens Eat Lobster Shells?
Yes, baby chickens can eat lobster shells. However, you’ll want to wait until they are at least 3 weeks old or until they are eating other food besides starter feeds.
When feeding chicks lobster shells, I recommend that you crush the shells into tiny pieces first. It should be similar to the size of grits. This will make it easier for them to digest it.
How Do You Prepare Lobster Shells For Your Chickens
Preparing the lobster shells for your chickens is quite simple. You can either feed them raw or cooked lobster. Either way, make sure that the lobster isn’t spoiled. If it is, it will be contaminated with harmful bacteria which could make your chickens sick.
There are two methods to feed them, which are the following:
The first method is to give the chickens the lobster shells by themselves. You can either give the whole lobster shell or crush them into tiny pieces.
If you’re giving the whole shell, the chickens will peck at them and eat pieces of it. This is a great way to keep them busy throughout the day.
Crushing them shell first is another option. This will make it easier for the chickens to eat and digest them. Crush the shells until it’s in tiny pieces. Then place the broken-up shells into their feeders or toss them onto the ground.
The second method is to mix the lobster shell with other foods. This is an excellent way of introducing extra calcium into their diet, especially for hens that are laying eggs and chicks.
You’ll want to break the shell into tiny pieces. Use a hammer, break the lobster shells until its small in pieces. Then all you need to do is add them to their food.
For vegetables and fruits, you can sprinkle the shells over them. For chicken feeds, you can do the same.
Other Seafood That Chickens Can Eat
Crabs
Crabs make a great treat for your chickens. Any leftovers you have, you can toss them to your chickens. They enjoy eating the flesh, along with the crab shells. The shells contain a lot of calcium, so it’s beneficial for them to eat them. Make sure to crush the crab shells into tiny pieces, so it will be easier for them to digest.
Salmon
Salmon makes an excellent treat for chickens. It contains high amounts of protein, vitamins, and minerals. You can either feed them cooked or raw salmon. The skin of the fish can also be given to them.
Oysters
Oyster is a seafood that’s a lot of people enjoy eating. Most people will eat the flesh and toss the oyster shell away. Instead of throwing it away, you can feed the oyster shell to your chickens. It contains a high amount of calcium content. Before feeding them to your chickens, make sure to crush them into small pieces first.
Conclusion
Lobster shells are safe for chickens to eat. Instead of throwing them away, give them to your chickens. The shells are high in calcium, so they’ll benefit a lot from eating it, especially egg-laying hens and baby chickens.
