Can anyone tell me if crushed eggshells are better than a calcium block and why?

I have heard that eggshells are better than cuttle bones etc. I used it when i got my 3rd bird Molly who was suffering from a slight case of rickets and really bad case of calcium deficiency so i added crushed eggshells into her seed and boy its made a big difference to her feet and health in genral. :parrot:

Edited May 20, 200817 yr by birdluv
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I would say yes and I am just using my common sense it because it is natural and not processed, though cuttlebone is from the cuttlefish it still is process and most likely loose nutrients like anything that is processed.

YES...in my research, the very best source of calcium is crushed and finely powdered eggshells. Mineral blocks only contain a part of processed calcium, and cuttlebones are more something a bird plays with than eats, so eggshells while you have them and can use them are great. I also have a lot of faith in calcivet.

Well we use a reasonable number of eggs here and I have had great success with putting them in my blender and turning them into dust. I have tried mixing the dust with a little water and making blocks out of them, they keep their shape but are pretty fragile. I was thinking or mixing them with a tiny bit of plaster just to help them hold together. The block would be about 75% crushed shell and 25% plaster, do you think this would be a good calcium block?

Here is the basic recipe for calcium mineral block...maybe just add you eggshells to this

 

MINERAL BLOCKS

 

Ingredients

equal parts of,

Plaster of Paris (available at craft shops or Pharmacy)

Calcium Carbonate

Garden lime

 

Method

Mix these together with enough water to make mixture similar to pouring custard (don't have it too wet). Pour into containers/moulds and add a piece of wire shaped like a U. Have about 2" protruding from the top, this is used to attach the block to something in the aviary. For moulds you can use :- Plastic cups, muffin tins, empty fast food containers. Allow to dry before removing from the mould.

You can also add your own vitamin or minerals or maybe a little grit to this mix. Note : the calcium MUST be "calcium carbonate".

I was basically planning on using that recip but replacing the CaCO3 with the eggshells.

I would stick to that basic recipe & then add your eggs to it as well, other wise it may not hold together as well. I want to make up a batch myself, but the plaster of Paris I got is sort of artificial not like in the old day, so I hope it’s safe I’m going to add a bit of clean river sand too, to try & stop my birds eating out the mortar in the bricks in my aviary base.

haha they eat what holds your bricks together :hap:???

I'd definatly add some grit then LOL!

Until now I thought that the Blocks that have the mineral and Calcium were better then eggshells as it as more then just Calcium in it ..... I learnt something New today ... YAY .....

 

I might give the making a go too seems It would be better in the long run both being cost effective and I know what my birds are getting ...