Thin shell/no laying

[mamatoes]

I’m pretty sure I may know the answer but I want to see if I’m missing anything.

my birds free range and I haven’t been getting a lot of eggs. Maybe 1 a day and I have 5 hens currently laying. So I locked them up to see if they’re just being sneaky. Still only 2 eggs...

They’re all on chick starter because we had a lot of babies hatch so I have oyster shells at free Choice for the hens. But still we’re getting really thing shelled eggs and only 1-2.
Is it the lack of layer food? Can I switch to layer now? My littlest chicks are like a month old. But my mama hens are hurting obviously! Help!

 

[Perris]

they need Vitamin D to metabolise calcium, so it could be insufficient amounts of that in their current diet. Either give a calcium tablet that includes vit D to any hen you are sure is laying thin-shelled eggs and see if that fixes the issue (it should only take a couple of days to see the difference), or add some cod liver oil to the feed (it won't hurt anyone and will supply vit d [and other goodies] to those that need it).

Can I switch to layer now?

I wouldn't. You shouldn't give layer feed to chicks, or indeed to any bird not laying; excess calcium can damage their systems.

 

[CurlyQuail]

I’m pretty sure I may know the answer but I want to see if I’m missing anything.

my birds free range and I haven’t been getting a lot of eggs. Maybe 1 a day and I have 5 hens currently laying. So I locked them up to see if they’re just being sneaky. Still only 2 eggs...

They’re all on chick starter because we had a lot of babies hatch so I have oyster shells at free Choice for the hens. But still we’re getting really thing shelled eggs and only 1-2.
Is it the lack of layer food? Can I switch to layer now? My littlest chicks are like a month old. But my mama hens are hurting obviously! Help!

Have you seen them eat the oyster shell? If they’re not eating it, it could be a lack of calcium

 

[aart]

So I locked them up to see if they’re just being sneaky. Still only 2 eggs...

How long did you confine them?
How old are these birds?

so I have oyster shells at free Choice for the hens.

Are they eating it?
Try sprinkling some on the ground.