Egg shells are so beneficial and can do a lot more around the kitchen and garden that just feeding back to the chickens or discarding to the landfills. Try employing some of the ideas I present below, and you'll wonder why you haven't been doing this all along.
IN THE KITCHEN
Some Bistro's offer *egg coffee*. It's all the rage, but this is a very old method used to reduce the acid and bitterness in coffee. Just crush egg shell, add it to your coffee grounds and brew as usual. Farmer's and cowboys alike have used this method to make their coffee drinkable.
A bit of baking powder added to beaten egg will make them fluff up more for omelets and scrambled eggs.
When a recipe calls for just yolks or just egg whites, separate as usual, but add a little water to the one you are not using, refrigerate and then use in baking or other normal egg preparation.
Use egg shells to clean the disposal. Just run hot water through the disposal as it grinds the shells.
Egg whites, with a couple drops of water and food coloring will make a safe water-based *paint* for children's projects.
BEAUTY ROUTINES
Because egg shell is so high in calcium, you can pulverize the shells and add to your facial routines, and even add to your foods and beverages, such as smoothies, for an easily digestible calcium supplement. If you have patience, you can make your own calcium tablets by filling pill cases for your daily calcium supplement.
We know that egg washes enhance baked goods by giving them a sheen and help pastry edges stick together, but egg washes can also be used in other ways. Separate the yolks and whites. beat the whites until frothy, apply to the face and allow to dry. Then wash the whites off with lukewarm water, leaving the skin feeling smooth.
Egg yolks are packed with protein and have been used for centuries to bring a healthy shine to hair. Separate the yolks and whites, beat the egg yolk, apply to wet hair and allow to set 5-10 minutes. Rinse hair with lukewarm to cool water. Never use hot water, or the egg yolk will cook into the hair.
NOTE: Always test on a small area of skin to be sure you do not have egg allergies before applying as a facial or hair treatment.
IN THE GARDEN
Crushed egg shells added to your plant fertilizer will add protein and calcium that plants need. Crushed egg shells can be scattered around the base of plants and watered as usual, to release calcium into the soil and plant roots. If using a liquid fertilizer, pulverize the shells so they will mix easier.
Tomatoes especially benefit from added calcium. Crush the shells and mix into the soil, or top dress around the base of the plants for a slow release of calcium as you water.
Egg shells do not break down in compost, so grind them or run them through the blender to pulverize then they will compost easily and provide a calcium source to composting worms.
FOR THE CHICKENS AND OTHER PETS
Boil egg shells in enough water to cover them. Allow the water to cool. Pour this water into the regular poultry water containers as a rich source of calcium that is readily available to the chickens. When boiling eggs, reserve that water, cool and pour into poultry water containers.
Crushed or pulverized egg shells can be added to homemade suet treats for the chickens or visiting birds.
Pulverized egg shells can be added to your soft pet foods as a rich calcium source for strong teeth and bones.
For additional tips around the farm and chicken coop, refer to the link: justfowlingaround.weebly.com/jfa-tip-of-the-day
For Dollar Store Hacks, useful around the farm and coop, refer to the link: justfowlingaround.weebly.com/chicken-coop-chatter-blog/dollar-store-hacks-for-poultry
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