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Tuesday, January 11, 2022

COOKING YOUR EGGSHELLS FOR THE BIRDS


 For many years, I have saved eggshells to give to the birds.  Eggshells are a good source of calcium, which they need for their bones and to help their eggs  have a stronger shell.  When I'm cooking with eggs, I place the eggshell back in the carton and save it until they've all been used.  Then, I place them on a piece of foil and put them in my  toaster oven at about 350 degrees.  I bake them for only a few minutes, until they are slightly browned.  Be careful not to overcook.
Then, I put them in this wrought iron basket and the birds and the squirrels, and not sure who else, love pecking and eating them.  Maybe the squirrels are eating the part of the egg white that is still in them.  And,  there are lots of bugs on the eggs for the birds and squirrels.  If you don't want to bother with hanging them in a tree, you can crumble and place them on the ground in your flower beds and any place that is easy for the birds to find.
By the way, I buy organic cage free eggs. 
 I'm sad for the chickens that are kept in small cages.
(Original post July 8, 2012)

55 comments:

  1. You are such a thoughtful person to feed birds and animals eggshells and to put them in a toaster oven for a bit. Sweet! I'm going to try that.
    JM Illinois

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    1. Thank you! Please cook on very low heat and only a very few minutes. If you overcook the eggshells, the smell is really bad. I watch for the browning tips, then take them out of the oven. I see birds and squirrels on them all the time in my yard.

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    2. Do they have to be cooked?

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  2. Very interesting! I'd never heard of this, Lynda. I currently place all my egg shells in my compost pile.

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    1. The birds will find them in your compost pile. Good that you have a compost pile!

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  3. I'm so happy to read what kind of eggs you buy. I also buy the certified cruelty free eggs- my kids call them happy chicken eggs- and now I'm going to save the shells for the birds. Thanks for teaching me something new!

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  4. Great idea. I used to put them out for the chickens, when we had them years ago, but never thought of baking them. I usually compost them now.

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    1. I've been doing it so long, I can't remember the reason I lightly cook them. I think it's so they won't smell like a rotten egg when you put them outside.

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  5. I didn't know that birds would eat egg shells, great idea! Love your basket.
    Very pretty.
    Thanks for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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    1. Hi Cindy, yes the birds and chickens will eat the eggshells for extra calcium. That basket has been in that tree for years and it still looks good.

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  6. I will start treating my birds and squirrels to "toasted" eggshells; thanks for the tip! I am hoping you bought your eggs from a local farmer as "cage free" eggs purchased at a supermarket could mean 5,000 chickens in a large barn!!! We have free-range chickens and I love to let them free in our garden - they eat the bugs, weeds and help keep me laughing all the time. Bless you, Reba

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    1. You're lucky to have room for your chickens. I do buy "cage free" and am aware that they are still confined and not free. I'm hoping they really are "cage free". You never know for sure. Every once in a while I can find "free range", but not often. I think the reason I started lightly cooking the eggshells is so they would not smell like a rotten egg in the yard.

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  7. This is such a great idea!! Thanks for linking up!

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    1. It really is a good idea for the birds and it's greatly appreciated. It's fun to watch the blue jays get in the basket and scatter everything.

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  8. I have free range chickens and will start saving my egg shells to feed to the birds. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. One of my friends said she fed them to her chickens, too. I guess we could google it.

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  9. As the saying goes, you never get too old to learn. Never heard of this.

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    1. Hi LV, it's calcium and that makes for stronger bird eggshells.

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  10. what a pretty display! and to think that the birds and squirrels enjoy it too. I've never heard of this, but I'm glad I know now.

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    1. Thank you! I think the squirrels are probably going for the bugs collecting in the eggshells.

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  11. Lynda, I am sure that the birds and other critters love you! I have heart of this, but have never tried doing it. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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    1. I think you can just crumble the eggshells and put them on the ground where the birds will find them.

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  12. This is something I've never heard about. I bet your birds and squirrels feel special!

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    1. Yes, it's good information. I hope the birds feel special, not so much the squirrels :)

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  13. Replies
    1. Yes, you can google it and get more information.

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    2. I used eggshells for my garden while growing vegetables I rinsed them and crumbled them and bury in my dirt for calcium for my plants. Never heard to feed birds ir squirrels.

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  14. What a great idea this is! I have never heard of it. I just have to remember not to toss the shells in the disposal while I'm cooking! If I could find a gorgeous wrought iron basket to hang them in, I'd be all set!

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    1. It is a helpful idea for the birds. You can google it for more information. I think I got that basket at a plant nursery a long time ago. It never rusts and has looked good for years. Hope you find something, too.

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  15. OH wonderful! I had no idea! The kids and I will be doing this. Thanks for the info!

    HaPpY pInK sAtUrDaY!
    Blessings,
    Sarah

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    1. I bet your kids will have fun saving the eggshells for the birds. You can google it for more information.

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  16. Interesting idea! I would have never thought to do this. Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty - we hope to see you again next week :)

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    1. Yes, calcium helps make the bird eggshells a little bit harder and maybe saving the baby birds in the egg.

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  17. Lynda, Thanks so much for sharing at Simple & Sweet Fridays. You'll be featured this week for this great idea!! Have a wonderful week!!
    Hugs
    Jody

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    1. Thank you, Jody!! The pictures of Christianson's Nursery were beautiful. Thank you for sharing!

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  18. I’ve been crumbling the egg shells after baking them in a pie tray for some time now. I just throw the egg shells in the oven when I have on in for other baking (so don’t waste the heat). Crumbling is much easier after being baked and also reduces any smell. I save them in a bottle during the winter or use them with my houseplants.

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    1. Hi, Saving them in a jar is a good idea. I think I'll crumble a few, too. It's getting to be that time of year (here) when the birds are thinking about nesting. It will be a while, but I can tell by their behavior. I need to get my birdhouses cleaned and paint a few. Thank you for commenting.

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  19. Wow That's such a great Idea! I save them in a jar and after its full I blend them up for my vegetable garden and my flower planters. This is even better.
    Thank You again

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  20. This is a great idea...never thought about it before. As far as cage free eggs go...all it means is that they're not squished into cages. Still squished together. They are more expensive but if you really want healthier eggs go free range. That's where they run around outside. And brown eggs are just as bad. They actually break off the beaks on baby chick's so they don't fight with other chickens.

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    1. Thank you for the information. I feel sorry for the baby chicks and all the chickens and animals not treated well.

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  21. Do you have to cook them? I don't have a toaster oven that's why I'm asking.

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    1. Hi, Well, everything I read says to bake them or "sterilize" them. I think the birds would appreciate the eggshells, even if you can't bake them.

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    2. This is an excellent idea. I just started saving the shells about a week ago to crush up & put in my potted plants. They are sometimes hard to break into really fine pieces. Is that one reason that you bake them as well? Does it make them more brittle? I eat eggs every day that I get from a neighbor who raises chickens.I can now give some to the birds as well...

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    3. Hi. I think baking them a for a few minutes does help harden the shell enough so they are easier to crush. Also, I found this when I searched: 'Sometimes it can be a problem (for birds) getting sufficient calcium to produce eggs and stay healthy. We can help them by providing calcium alongside our bird feeders. The easiest way to provide calcium is by putting out crushed eggshells. These act as grit as well, aiding in digestion.' Hope this information was helpful.

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  22. I use the shell from boiled eggs but never thought about raw shells for birds. I’ve only used them between plants on the ground to deter slugs but maybe birds have been eating them all these years without me knowing!

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    1. I bet they have been eating them. You can search online and find more information about eggshells for the birds.

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    2. I rinse them with just warm water to get the inside cleaned out, dry on a kitchen towel, I use a gallon baggie, cover baggie with the towel, use my rolling pin to crush them, no mess! I use them to keep critters away from the plant, and recycle the rest in the compost! Great nutrients and cost nothing.

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  23. Must I bake the eggs?

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    1. Hi. I bet it would be fine not to bake them. I read that baking the eggshells sterilizes them. Also, they might start smelling bad if you put them out uncooked. Wouldn't hurt to try not baking them and see how it goes.

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    2. Also, you only bake them for a couple of minutes. They cook really fast.

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  24. Thank you Lynda it is a brilliant tip I will be trying that and being a rspb member i would think they will be over the moon 🌙that you care take care and stay safe 😷 best wishes Stephen Gilbank

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  25. Not sure why, but I'm having trouble with seeing your comments and my reply showing up. I will try to get it working soon.

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