[Bobby]

Hi all

Our 4 chooks started laying about 4 weeks ago.  Some days we get 2,3, or 4 eggs.  Yesterday evening one chook laid a soft egg - we have had a few of these, but were not unduly concerned.  We had another soft egg this morning - not sure which chook laid it and one very small oddly shaped egg.  We are feeding them organic layers pelletts, mixed corn as a treat and they graze on grass and we give them cabbage leaves.  We have a grit tray inside the coop and outside.  At one point we got 4 eggs every day - any advice would be welcome

Bobby

[shetlandpaul]

just in case increase there oyster shell but they grow out of it.

[doganjo]

Are they starting to throw their feathers?  Moulting can reduce egg production - it has ours.

[Bobby]

Are they starting to throw their feathers?  Moulting can reduce egg production - it has ours.

No - not at all and they seem really healthy.  I may be a bit neurotic because it is all very new to me and we only have the 4 , got the bl00dy family all expecting eggs   everyone giving us used egg boxes - hoping to get them filled - I think we may get some more chooks - but a bit worried in case we are doing something wrong

[catomell]

Hi
You need to give them oyster shell. The grit that you are feeding them will help with their digestion only, rather than their egg laying ability. The oyster shell basically gives them a big dose of calcium which aids with the laying down of the shell. Also, as was pointed out earlier, they might be in moult and therefore will be putting more energy into moulting than they are into laying eggs. I would suggest adding some poultry spice to their feed, ....as well as oyster shell.
Hope all goes well.
Shout loud if you have any more problems.
Catherine.

[shetlandpaul]

don't do that when your chucks are in full lay your going to have 24 a week. now thats fine for a week or two but even the greatest eggholic can get fed up with them. so imagine you have ten you have 60 eggs when your friends start to run when they see the egg boxes then you get buried under tons of eggs. the cost of feed goes up a lot to from a bag every few weeks to lots were at 6 a week at the moment. don't be put off but have a think before doing it.

[Bobby]

Thanks so much - you people are so helpful.  I so wish I could give up work and just spend time with my chooks and veggies
Bobby

[doganjo]

I have found the happy medium - save a few ex batts - they lay fewer eggs, so you aren't snowed under, and you get the satisfaction of watching them become healthy again, and enjoying their antics.

[Bobby]

Have now established that one hen is laying soft eggs - she just laid one now - it is always in the evening - we get three good eggs laid every morning - because we are in work it is hard to keep an eye out - but it is definately the same one who is laying them

[doganjo]

She must need more calcium than the other three then.  I think that's the answer but how you get more into her than  the others I don't know.

[aparker155]

I had the same problem with mine and have started to put limestone flour (source of calcium) and cod liver oil (source of vitamin D which they need to absorb the calcium apparently) in with their food 3 times a week - this seems to have done the trick and I haven't had a softie since!!!

My girls always had a pot of oyster shell available (and still do) but I guess just needed an extra hit.