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Saturday, February 15, 2014

COOKING YOUR EGGSHELLS FOR THE BIRDS...NOW IS THE TIME

Here in South Texas, the birds are calling for their mates and beginning to search for just the right secure setting for their spring nest.


This is the time to save and lightly cook your eggshells for the birds.  The calcium in the eggshells is very important, especially at this time of year.
One thing I have noticed is they seem to be more interested in the white eggshells.  This year, I'll pay very close attention to that  and will let you know if they really do prefer the lighter ones.
This is a link to my original post on my nature blog
BIRDS & DAFFODILS

29 comments:

  1. Wow, I had no idea. Thanks tons for linking to Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty

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  2. I had no idea either!!! I just made a fritatta Saturday - I wish I had known this!

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    1. You still have plenty of time. I leave that basket out year round and something is always flicking the eggshells out on the ground. I know the little wrens go through the eggshells in the summertime and eat the bugs.

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  3. I always save and scatter crushed eggshells in my garden.. I heard plants, especially tomatoes, need calcium and I'm sure the birds also pick up the shells.

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  4. Once the snow melts here in Illinois, I will start scattering eggshells in the garden. Birds like them and so does the garden. Wonderful image of ceramic Chicken and eggshells!
    JM Illinois

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    1. Thank you! So glad we don't have snow like you do every winter!

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    1. Yes! The little wrens will sling their beaks back and forth, I guess to move the shells around and it is fun to watch them.

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  6. I never thought of the shells for the birds. I once had a cockatiel and a parakeet who needed cuttlefish bone (like egg shells). I do put shells in the garden - they are supposed to ward off slugs - and we have giant slugs. UGH!

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    1. Well, we have those big slugs, too. Also, the cuttlebone is essential for the birds to shape their beaks. I will try the eggshells for the slugs this spring and sure hope they work for me!!

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  7. I add crushed egg shells to the garden--but it will be a while before I can do that with at least a foot and a half of snow out there! I am curious. Why do you cook the egg shells? I rinse and crush them but haven't cooked them.

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    1. Oh my, that snow!! Here, it was 85 yesterday. But, a coldfront came in today, so will be really cold, tonight. I've heard that if you cook the eggshells, it keeps them from smelling bad as they decay. And, the comment below this one is Deborah and she says she cooks and crumbles them to feed to her chickens. By crumbling and cooking the eggshells, the chickens don't recognize the taste and will keep them from eating their own eggs. Interesting, huh?

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  8. How funny...I just pulled a pan of crushed eggshells out of the oven! I feed them back to my chickens for grit and calcium. Crushed and baked, they don't recognize them as eggs, so they don't try to eat their own eggs. Thank you for sharing at What We Accomplished Wednesdays. Have a lovely week! ~Deborah

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    1. You have chickens too?!!! I love you even more Deborah!! ;)
      Someday we hope to too....I just hope I'll be able to touch them. LOL

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  9. Using the shells in the garden also saves space in the landfill. I'm all for that.
    Hugs

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  10. you're taking care of the birds:) and plants - have to pass that on to son-in-law (he likes to be up on the latest thing). Have a great weekend!

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  11. this certainly is news to me. Great way to 'feed the birds'! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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    1. Yes, it helps build calcium for their bones and makes their eggs have stronger shells.

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  12. I have never done this for the birds, but I do put my eggshells into my compost.

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    1. That's good. I'm sure the birds will find the eggshells in your compost pile.

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  13. this is news to me -- thanks for sharing, I will have to try this!

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    1. Yes, if you don't have a basket to hang in a tree, just crumble them and put them on the ground. Actually, you don't even have to crumble them, if that's too much trouble. The birds will find them.

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  14. I didn't know this either. Thanks for sharing at TTF!

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  15. I've been feeding and tending to song birds for a long time and I had never heard to doing this. Thanks for the tip!!!

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