Can birds eat eggshells?
Yes. Baked, crushed eggshells give nesting birds calcium for their own eggs. Bake them first to kill salmonella.
The details
Female songbirds need extra calcium in spring to form eggshells, and in regions with acidic soils calcium can be scarce. Purple Martin landlords and bluebird trail monitors have long offered crushed shells.
Rinse shells, bake at 250°F for 20 minutes, crush to fingernail-size pieces and scatter on a tray in April to June.
How to offer it
- Bake at 250°F for 20 minutes, crush and scatter in spring.
Avoid
- Raw, unbaked shells
Birds that take it
Frequently asked
Can birds eat eggshells?
Yes. Baked, crushed eggshells give nesting birds calcium for their own eggs. Bake them first to kill salmonella.
Why bake eggshells for birds?
Baking kills salmonella and makes shells brittle enough to crush.
Related questions
Sources
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.