Uses for crushed egg shells?

[nilling]

For the past couple of months I have been putting egg shells into an old chicken pellet tub. Along with a couple of golf balls. Shaking the tub to crush the shells into 'ittle bits.

I am going to use the crushed shells for my can-of-worms to help neutralise the acidity when my supplied pellets run out. I may also use as a slug deterrent around vulnerable crops. But what else?

[Eyren]

I feed mine back to the hens, to keep up their calcium levels. Sorry, not much use if you don't have any

[Nes]

Joe whatshisname from gardeners world put some in the planting hole of his brassicas, as apparently they like the extra calcium. Don't know if this is true... Anyone??

[snohare]

My experience of using eggshells to combat slugs is that it is absolutely useless. I lost virtually all my carrots last year because I relied on that. Not only that, I think the damned slugs ate the eggshells, they were nowhere to be seen when I went back a couple of weeks later ! And I left the ground just about white with them.
I now think of them just as a useful way of adding lime to my soil, and was intending to put them around my brassicas - I hadn't thought of the Can-o-worms idea.
Usually I put mine in a plastic bag and use a rolling pin to crush them. Ta for the golf ball tip nilling, I'll try that !

[HeyWayne]

Crush them up to a powder in a pestle and mortar and use as talcum powder?

[Snadger]

Joe whatshisname from gardeners world put some in the planting hole of his brassicas, as apparently they like the extra calcium. Don't know if this is true... Anyone??

That actually sounds like quite a feasible idea!!!!!! I may try that!

It should give a localised alkaline area(ideal for brassicas) and supply a small amount of slow release Nitrogen and Phosphate, similar to bone meal!

[diana]

I was always told not to feed the egg shells back to the hens as they get a taste for them and start eating there own eggs, anyone else heard that?

[rana]

I have to agree with Snohare, they are completely useless as a slug deterent. Mine are dried, crushed and added to the compost material. I've also heard they can be used for cleaning glass (eg the inside of decanters)

[womble]

I was always told not to feed the egg shells back to the hens as they get a taste for them and start eating there own eggs, anyone else heard that?

Yes, you should apparently crush them up so the hens don't know what they are eating.
IIRC heating them in the oven is also the right thing to do, although I can't remember why atm.

[FoxHillGardener]

IIRC heating them in the oven is also the right thing to do, although I can't remember why atm.

I read that it cooks off any remaining eggy bits so they don't attract foxes or rats when you put them out.

I just collect a load up then shove them in a tray in the oven after it's been on for something else. The heat while it's cooling down is enough to dry them out. Then I crush them into bits but not as fine as a powder. I used a big pile round my emerging rhubarb and it's been untouched by slimers; last year they kept grazing the new shoots off. So that's worked for me

I'm also going to try the under brassicas thing too this year

[Snadger]

I was always told not to feed the egg shells back to the hens as they get a taste for them and start eating there own eggs, anyone else heard that?

Must admit at first I thought likewise, but if the eggshells are toasted in the oven then crushed there is no resemblance to the original shell.
Another thing that I didn't originally like doing was feeding eggs (mixed with mash) back to poorly chooks! I do it now though as I realise the poor things have to secrete a great big lump of protein each day and if you have a poorly chook what better way is there to give it a quick protein fix?

[gojiberry]

Still trying to work out what I will do with mine. Original intention was a slug deterant but if that doesnt work then no point in trying. May try the idea for brassicas though.

Ian

[Jillyreeves]

Still trying to work out what I will do with mine. Original intention was a slug deterant but if that doesnt work then no point in trying. May try the idea for brassicas though.

Ian

I too have been saving mine as a slug barrier, doesnt sound like such a good method though

Oh well I am sure I will find a use for them, otherwise into the compost they go.

[SlugLobber]

Crush them up to a powder in a pestle and mortar and use as talcum powder?

I used to do exactly that, Wayne, but not for talcum powder. I sprinkled the powder over the dinners of my cats and dog, who were all on the BARF diet (Bones and Raw Food). It helps boost their fibre and mineral levels and it's very useful if your dog is a smelly farty thing, with smelly poos!

[snohare]

What a wonderful idea ! Now that is a good use, regardless of who might pooh pooh !