Hi all! Looking for advice or to see if anyone else has had a similar situation and advice on next steps. (Probably more details than needed below)
Feeding Details:
Our flock has been eating New Country Organics Corn/Soy Free Layer. Been buying a month's supply from a local reseller since last May/June. We also give oyster shell and grit free choice.
Occasional treats include - Grubterra soldier fly larvae (no more than 8 oz across the flock per day, 3-5 times per week), Scrambled eggs (about 9 eggs across the flock or less weekly), Kitchen scraps (usually slightly wilted herbs or spinach leaves 1x week if that currently, will likely increase as garden grows but I look up what is safe to share with the girls)
Background Info:
Since start of spring we have been seeing some intermittent laying issues. My partner and I are wondering if maybe this is something diet change can help improve. Most girls are laying well but we are seeing some reoccurring issues with thin/soft shell eggs.
We had one girl (whiting true blue) treated by a vet after passing a soft shell membrane and possibly broken egg. She recovered for a month or two before passing without us noticing any symptoms (RIP Hawk <3).
Narrowed down a specific Andalusian who has been laying soft shell eggs off and on (coincided soft shell eggs with days she seems "not herself" over the past 3 months + collected eggs early today while monitoring and saw she was the soft shell egg layer)
Otherwise apart from some eggs that seem "thinner" and not tied to any chicken acting abnormal the rest of the flock is doing well. My partner and I are debating whether it is the food quality vs specific metabolism of certain chickens giving them trouble. We do set up multiple feeders to minimize bullying. We also check on the food level a couple times a day and refill if needed.
More details:
Mixed flock from McMurray Hatchery ~ 1 yr old:
3 Buff Orpingtons
4 Rhode Island/New Hampshire Reds
4 Wyandottes (2 silver laced, 2 columbian)
3 Andalusians
2 Anconas
2 Domoniques
2 Delawares
2 Black Stars
2 Bielefelders
1 Whiting True Blue
Feeding Details:
Our flock has been eating New Country Organics Corn/Soy Free Layer. Been buying a month's supply from a local reseller since last May/June. We also give oyster shell and grit free choice.
Occasional treats include - Grubterra soldier fly larvae (no more than 8 oz across the flock per day, 3-5 times per week), Scrambled eggs (about 9 eggs across the flock or less weekly), Kitchen scraps (usually slightly wilted herbs or spinach leaves 1x week if that currently, will likely increase as garden grows but I look up what is safe to share with the girls)
Background Info:
Since start of spring we have been seeing some intermittent laying issues. My partner and I are wondering if maybe this is something diet change can help improve. Most girls are laying well but we are seeing some reoccurring issues with thin/soft shell eggs.
We had one girl (whiting true blue) treated by a vet after passing a soft shell membrane and possibly broken egg. She recovered for a month or two before passing without us noticing any symptoms (RIP Hawk <3).
Narrowed down a specific Andalusian who has been laying soft shell eggs off and on (coincided soft shell eggs with days she seems "not herself" over the past 3 months + collected eggs early today while monitoring and saw she was the soft shell egg layer)
Otherwise apart from some eggs that seem "thinner" and not tied to any chicken acting abnormal the rest of the flock is doing well. My partner and I are debating whether it is the food quality vs specific metabolism of certain chickens giving them trouble. We do set up multiple feeders to minimize bullying. We also check on the food level a couple times a day and refill if needed.
More details:
Mixed flock from McMurray Hatchery ~ 1 yr old:
3 Buff Orpingtons
4 Rhode Island/New Hampshire Reds
4 Wyandottes (2 silver laced, 2 columbian)
3 Andalusians
2 Anconas
2 Domoniques
2 Delawares
2 Black Stars
2 Bielefelders
1 Whiting True Blue
