Quote Originally Posted by farscott View Post
Chickens need calcium in the diet to produce hard shells. Some feeds have more calcium.

We give our chickens pumpkins as the fiber is a natural wormer. The only thing left is the rind. Cornbread with cayenne pepper is also a good wormer. In the summer, we toss watermelons out to them. Keeps them hydrated and a bit cooler.

We do not waste much food as what we do not eat the chickens typically do. The gristle from steaks, leftover veggies, extra biscuits -- it all goes to the chickens as supplements to their usual feed. The eggs we get have very hard shells and the yolks are a deep orange, not a pale yellow.
Cornbread and watermelon? Dang I need to get in the chicken food diet then. I never remember having any leftover cornbread to feed to any of the animals on my uncle’s farm.