What to do with shells?

[Magpie]

We foraged a nice number of Pipi (clams) the other day, and now have a lot of shells. Any ideas on how to recycle/reuse them? My only thought was to take them back to the beach.

[Green Aura]

I'm sure they're excellent to add to the compost - they must be very nutritious. How on earth you make them suitable for adding to it though is beyond me. They'd need crushing fairly fine.

We've lived in this house for eight years now and every time we disturb a new patch of ground we find mussel shells, still largely intact. So, unless the birds use our garden as a picnic site, they don't rot down quickly.

[Flo]

Can you decorate them and then give as gifts or sell them?

[diggernotdreamer]

This pub is in Ireland, decorated with shells, maybe you have a small wall or some wet concrete to press them into and varnish over http://berrystavern.com/

[doofaloofa]

If you have a burner you can burn them for their lime

We normally burn shells left over from a meal, and add the ashes to the hen run

Once burned, like bones, they become crumbly

Lime was traditionally made in coastal areas by slaking (burning at high temperatures) shells in kilns. The remains of slaking kilns can often be found around the coast

[Magpie]

I have other shells which have been through the compost untold times, they just keep hanging around. :-) These aren't decorative at all, so not much good for that either.
Great suggestion of putting them in the fire though - they are in there now. I never think to put anything other than wood in there. I had a bad neighbour once, who would burn all their rubbish in their wood-burner, including used plastic nappies.

[maple]

i used to throw mine into the hen run, they would pick at them, also a few whacks of the hammer to get them a bit smaller and then in a food processor, a few at a time mind, and then give them to the hens or sprinkle around tomatoe plants etccccccccccc

[harðfiskur]

Seashell Wind Chimes ?

[CJay]

I had a good number of walnut shells that I used as a top layer to the hugelkultur I made for my raspberry bushes. No crushing or grinding needed. I've read that you can do the same with clamshells and what not.

[happyhippy]

I'd crush them and use them around my fruit/veg as slug/snail deterrent,if you have chickens,crush them to use as grit.I'd also make wind chimes either as a decorative item,or hang them off bamboo to ward off birds from your veg garden.