3 Hens 4 Eggs

[Nellzmom]

I have 3 8-month old barred rock pullets: Violet, Emma Jane, and Bertha. They have a 4x4 coop w/ two nest boxes over a 4x8 run and an added 30 sq foot run. I feed Purina Flock Raiser w/oyster shell available always. On days with temps in the mid to low 20s, they get a handful of grubblies or about 1/4 cup cracked corn late afternoon. They also forage in a 4x8 tractor for 1-2 hours each day.

Violet started laying first, & laid her egg early morning. Emma Jane started laying next about a week later, usually around noon. There have been a few days without eggs, but otherwise pretty regular. Bertha (who I mistakenly thought laid the very 1st egg) hasn’t laid until today — or possibly yesterday.

Yesterday Violet & EJ laid their morning eggs as usual. I checked the coop around 4 pm to see if it needed tidying, & found two perfect eggs in one nest box, making 4 eggs for the day. Even if Bertha started laying yesterday, somebody was up one egg.

I had recently read & saved azygous’s article on egg problems, so I gave each one a cal citrate. Today I got 3 eggs: one at 8 am, one between 11 & noon, and one between noon & 3. All normal shells & size.

Question: should I just monitor or go ahead and give cal citrate to everyone daily for 7-10 days? Don’t want to over do the calcium, but I REALLY don’t want to risk egg binding or prolapse.
Thanks.

 

[LizzzyJo]

Congrats on the egg bumper crop!

you’re worrying and thinking too much all is well. No worries. It happens.
Just keep doing what you’re doing.

 

[Henrietta 65]

She should be just fine one of my pullets managed to lay three eggs in one day

 

[aart]

so I gave each one a cal citrate.

Why would you give extra calcium for an 'extra' egg.....was one of the eggs a softie?

 

[Nellzmom]

Why would you give extra calcium for an 'extra' egg.....was one of the eggs a softie?

No softies, all eggs were normal. From what I’ve read on BYC & other places, an extra egg isn’t good. I’m all for avoiding scenarios that include sticking my fingers up a chicken’s nether regions

 

[Nellzmom]

Congrats on the egg bumper crop!

you’re worrying and thinking too much all is well. No worries. It happens.
Just keep doing what you’re doing.

Thanks—“paranoid” is my middle name!!

 

[Nellzmom]

She should be just fine one of my pullets managed to lay three eggs in one day

I would probably have had a heart attack!! Thanks for the reassurance!

 

[aart]

From what I’ve read on BYC & other places, an extra egg isn’t good.

Eh, maybe....extra calcium isn't going to change that tho and too much can cause problems too.

 

[coach723]

It's pretty common for new layers to have 'glitches' while their systems work things out. One of them may have had an egg a little delayed in the pipe and another ended up close behind it, it happens. They sound like they are normal and doing well, try not to worry. Save the calcium citrate for a bonifide issue like soft shelled or no shelled eggs, or a case of egg binding, in which cases the symptoms are very obvious. In over ten years I've honestly only had to give calcium a handful of times, I also feed flock raiser and have oystershell available all the time.

 

[Nellzmom]

It's pretty common for new layers to have 'glitches' while their systems work things out. One of them may have had an egg a little delayed in the pipe and another ended up close behind it, it happens. They sound like they are normal and doing well, try not to worry. Save the calcium citrate for a bonifide issue like soft shelled or no shelled eggs, or a case of egg binding, in which cases the symptoms are very obvious. In over ten years I've honestly only had to give calcium a handful of times, I also feed flock raiser and have oystershell available all the time.

Based on the responses, I figured I’d jumped the gun. It’s really helpful to hear someone with years of experience say how often they’ve faced these situations. Andthe articles will be a godsend if/when they’re actually needed. Thank you!!