The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Mel on July 29, 2011, 07:58:25 pm
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Hi everyone :wave:
I have been keeping chickens for just over 3 years now and this year I am having a terrible problem with soft shelled eggs,I have even lost two this year through egg peritonitis,ok a few are in full moult but I have put these in another area and taken them off layers.They are completely free ranging,have oyster shell and I have also added limestone flour.Tonics in their water,wormed and still I have these soft eggs. my egg production is down from 40 per day to around a dozen,that's out of 50+ hens.
I do have a few elderly French Marans,coming up 5yrs of age and an ex batt and she is 6!-but she does not lay anymore,she is in retirement like the other elders.I have a dozen warrens and these are 18 months of age,all in full moult.My Cuckoo marans are all off lay,not a choccy egg anywhere,they laid earlier in the year with some fabulous eggs,I think they ave all gone on strike?!
Any other thoughts on the soft shelled eggs?
Melx
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my marans have been broody, so no brown eggs here either..
As for the soft shell, as long as you are provided grit & a good diet, there's not much else I can think of. Its just one of those things with older (or some) hens...
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We're getting reular soft shelled eggs. Like you, they have good quality layer pellets, free range and access to oystershell and grit. I've just put it down to their ages.
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You must be right,my eldest French Marans lay lovely large brown eggs,but they are nearly always with meaty spots inside :( I guess I shall have to invest in some pol hens next week ;D ~ and put all of these into the "Cluckers" retirement home!