I've had oyster shell bits out for a while, but no takers. Holding off on egg shells until it looks like the nesting is starting.
Should I go ahead & put egg shells out now just in case?
egg shells/oyster shells
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Ed Svetich-WI
- Posts: 815
- Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:05 pm
- Location: Brooks, Wi (McGinnis Lake)
- Martin Colony History: 24 Super and Excluder Gourds on two gourd racks, all SREH. Full occupancy. My philosophy is to maximize fledge % with existing cavities rather than adding gourds to grow colony, thus providing opportunities for new colony expansion. Fledge over 100 nestlings yearly from 24 gourds. Band nestlings in cooperation with state university. 2019 Adendum: Reduced colony size to 12 gourds to focus on more intensive management regimen.
Go ahead, if your martins will accept them more readily than the oyster shells. However, research has shown that oyster shell is better than egg shells as far as the number of eggs laid and there is no risk of transmitting disease as with possibly contaminated egg shells.
The hens will begin to ingest larger quantities of calcium as egg laying approaches, so you might be a bit impatient at this point.
I hope you have a successful year.
Ed
The hens will begin to ingest larger quantities of calcium as egg laying approaches, so you might be a bit impatient at this point.
I hope you have a successful year.
Ed
Mine have just started hitting the oyster shells the last couple of days. They are much easier and they seem to like them better. I have been using them the last 3 years (counting this year).
I put them on two raised platforms and my mocking birds and martins will sit together and share them....
It is much easier than egg shells for me.
James
I put them on two raised platforms and my mocking birds and martins will sit together and share them....
It is much easier than egg shells for me.
James
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Craig Haddox
- Posts: 444
- Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2004 5:13 pm
- Location: Missouri Washington
I use both oyster shell and egg shells and my martins eat both. They prefer the egg shells the most.
I've never tried the oyster shell's, but I can't get a bird of any kind to eat an egg shell. I put them out last summer and they were never touched. I've got them out now and still nothing.
Tony
2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
2008 --- 0 2012---0 16-19—0
2009 --- 0 2013---1 2020—?
2010 --- 0 2014---3
2007 --- 0 2011---0 2015---4
2008 --- 0 2012---0 16-19—0
2009 --- 0 2013---1 2020—?
2010 --- 0 2014---3
Would it be better to break the oyster shell in smaller pieces ? I use it for chickens and I would think they'd be a bit large for smaller birds.
2010: 5 pair - raptor attack .
2011 : nada .
2012 : 1 pair - 5 eggs / 5 fledged .
2013: zero
2014: Lots of visitors
2015 : several visitors . Seriously considering purchasing a drone to scare off raptors .
2011 : nada .
2012 : 1 pair - 5 eggs / 5 fledged .
2013: zero
2014: Lots of visitors
2015 : several visitors . Seriously considering purchasing a drone to scare off raptors .
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Ed Svetich-WI
- Posts: 815
- Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:05 pm
- Location: Brooks, Wi (McGinnis Lake)
- Martin Colony History: 24 Super and Excluder Gourds on two gourd racks, all SREH. Full occupancy. My philosophy is to maximize fledge % with existing cavities rather than adding gourds to grow colony, thus providing opportunities for new colony expansion. Fledge over 100 nestlings yearly from 24 gourds. Band nestlings in cooperation with state university. 2019 Adendum: Reduced colony size to 12 gourds to focus on more intensive management regimen.
I use the pullet size oyster shell. It has a variety of sizes in the mix. Every bird in the area uses the oyster shell all season. I bought mine at the local feed mill, $10.00/50 pounds.
Ed
Ed
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Dave Duit
- Posts: 2146
- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
- Location: Iowa / Nevada
- Martin Colony History: In 2026, 88 pair with 333 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to daveduit@yahoo.com. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.
I also crush my pellet sized oyster shells and then mix them up in a bag with the crushed egg shells.