The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: sheepnewbies on May 09, 2010, 12:18:32 pm
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I wonder if anyone has advice. One of my two-year old four girls lays eggs either with a very soft shell (broken usually by the time I get to it) or with a very rough raspy uneven shell. She often sits puffed out for hours looking very miserable but does eventually lay - even dropping it on open ground. I give them plenty of grit and oyster shell, they have organic layers pellets, a pick-me-up in their water and by day they wander totally freely. This morning she's been sitting in the run, won't come out, looking really miserable and puffed up. She didn't lay yesterday. Anything more I can do?
Isobel
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She's now passed a totally collapsed egg in the nesting box since when I've had her in hot water (not too hot!) for some time and dried her off. She's been pecking around a bit and she's now back in the nest box......
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poor girl
I dont know what to advise... but we get funny eggs too sometimes, so I will watch avidly for advice myself....
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Thanks. Possibly the problem is not egg bound as such but the fact that the shells are so so soft it is difficult to lay them properly - if that makes sense.
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Hi there just read your post and I have something similar. One of mine (only had her two months) lays well for a couple of days then after a perfect egg in the morning she lays another beautifully formed but with a soft shell in the garden and not in her box and then she lays another yolk only with a poor shell - the 2nd 2eggs happen late pm. So effectively 3 in one day. She then doesn't lay the next day and then is back to normal the following day. The pattern is then repeated in 3/4 days time. Bizarre! Very happy in herself and like yours is fed well with free range pellets, grit, baked and crushed egg shells and lovley tit bits. To be honest out of my 3 she is least impressed with grit - wonder if I should put it in the food itself? I'll keep an eye out to see if there's a 'link' perhaps with our girls!
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I read somewhere that layers pellets encourage egg laying so maybe you could reduce her intake of that and top up with mixed grain and veg?
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Hi there - thanks for the reply! I shall try this - she is the largest of the 3 yet the least forthright. She's hangs back when scraps/veggies are given (not really sure she is getting her fair share) yet she does eat a lot of pellets - I guess because she can get to them without pushing as the feeder is large enough for all 3 birds. Ive put out some more grit too - what about mixing grit in with pellets? Does anyone do this?
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then you will need to boost the calcium intake. reducing the pellets reduces the amount they get.
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mmmmm and how does one do that?! ???
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more oyster shell. calcium rich food bugs/ greens the darker the better. old roasted egg shells crushed would be easy.
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thank you - I don't do oyster shell alone, I do mixed grit - is that ok? Also they have greens/kale/dandelion leaves etc daily and they free range in an area about 8m x5m so I guess get their bugs there?
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it should be. they will pick what they want. your enclosier is big but it will be limited in bugs after a while. when digging save them any worms you come across. good food and fun to watch as they chase around with them.
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thank you - I do pass on worms and things. Have just been out with boiled rice and the 'greedy two' have scoffed. The other one is doing her 'thing' - we have a drooped tail, she's standing very still and her vent is very active as opposed to the other two whose bums appear fine. My bet says we'll have an egg soon (it's 19:40 now) and if we do that's 2 days on the trot. Then she'll perk up and be happy to top up before bed..............
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how old is she.
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morning Shetland paul! She is a maran/bluebell x (??) and approx 40 weeks. She's quite big and we've had a few lovely double yokers from her before this started. Last night she put herself to bed and this morning we had a yolk on the poo tray. This is an improvement from the previous night but I can't help feeling she just can't seem to 'hold on' through the night..........This morning very eager to get out as usual and eating well - infact she went straight to the grit i've sprinkled on the ground - dosent seem to bother if its in its pot.
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just try it for a few weeks and see how she is doing. if she is still having problems and not producing shells then its probably something structural and you will just have to decide what to do.
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thanks for your help. I'll top up her bugs and things and take it from there - I'll let you know
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She's quite cheerful now. Didn't lay for three days and then another collapsed egg this morning. I give plenty of oyster shells daily with pellets but they are entirely free range from morning to dusk over many acres. They have been spotted three fields away so not lacking in fresh produce! She must be lacking in calcium I imagine - what on earth can I give her that she's not already getting?
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i don't think there is. just hope she groes out o it.
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There are various calcium supplements available for humans. I have Calcichew D3 for myself and have given pups bits of my tablets for years. Others are available from Health stores. Can you give any of these to a hen?
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no idea. but if its a calicium issue probably best to supply natural sources. if you give too much calicium you may effect other trace elimants. but it could be worth a try. but not yet.
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Just thought I'd let you know: After talking to someone in our local farm store, I wormed the girls again, even though it is only 4 months since I last did them - with Flubenvet you only do it every 6 months - 4 days after starting the worming, she's just produced a decent egg, the first one in some weeks! Hope this will help someone else.
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Hi all - thought I'd give an update re: chook that was producing lots of soft shells (sometimes 3 a day). Shetland Paul advised increase in calcium may help. got some dried meal worms, fed her live ones whilst gardening and increased greens intake. We've also let the 3 girls 'roam' a little more than they would usually - and introduced them to the dog with good results - and all in all she's a lot perkier and producing one 'normal' egg a day. thanks all for the advice/help :wave:
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Great news! ;D ;D ;D
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pleased for you and the chuck.