Recycling Eggshells

I try to use everything that's of value. Including eggshells. My favorite use for them is to feed them right back to the hens. Eggshells are almost pure calcium and calcium in a chicken's diet ensures that future eggs will have nice hard shells. I collect the empty shells and keep them in the refrigerator. Once I have a big pile I place them into the microwave, on high, for 3 minutes. This sterilizes them.

Once they have cooled I crush them up and mix the crushed shells with crushed oyster shells. A bit of this mixture is offered to the hens each morning. The following picture is of crushed eggshells, only, before adding the oyster shells.