Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[cwrite]

If the chick starter isn't medicated any high protein feed will do. Calcium deficiency isn't the only cause of soft shelled eggs. Illness, heat stress and too much phosphorus to calcium ratio can also be factors.

http://www.alltech.com/sites/default/files/alltech-egg-shell-quality-poster.pdf

I'll have a look through this too - thanks for the info. I'm having the same problem as @AussieChics . I was feeding grower with grit and crushed egg shells on the side and my ISA brown started laying really soft 'shelled' eggs. I'm now feeding them all layer feed until she recovers, but as it's just the one hen maybe it's being caused by something else.

 

[satay]

A question for @Fancychooklady or anyone else that may be able to help. My grey Belgian seems to be spending all day at her waterer drinking. It is really hot 39C here today but still seems odd that she has been drinking every time I come out and has not seemed to move all day. Has anyone had a chicken with kidney problems or something similar? She seems otherwise fine and when I go over to chat to her she seems happy to jump on my lap for a chat but when I go she races back to the water to drink more.

 

[Steampunked]

Thankyou - you are all very kind! This one will take a while.

With the drinking chook, what are her droppings like? Has she eaten anything very salty, or high in protein that you know of? And is she messy or clean around the vent?

Not sure, but sometimes in mammals this sort of thing is due to parasites or some need to flush the system.

 

[satay]

Thankyou - you are all very kind! This one will take a while.

With the drinking chook, what are her droppings like? Has she eaten anything very salty, or high in protein that you know of? And is she messy or clean around the vent?

Not sure, but sometimes in mammals this sort of thing is due to parasites or some need to flush the system.

Everything is fine. Normal droppings, worming up to date, no messy vent etc. Just rather odd. I have added some probiotics to her water. She is still out there drinking but otherwise seems fine.

 

[tandykins]

Well that worked out rather well! Now to make a back-up for when the one she's wearing gets dirty. I made this one out of cotton jersey which I -always- forget is an absolute pain to sew. Next one I'll make from breathable cotton and I'll make the elastic just a little longer. Hers is snugger than I'd like.

Pardon the food all over the floor. My 4 year old had just finished dinner while I was finishing sewing and apparently wanted to "feed the chicken" steak and bacon pie. XD

 

[Fancychooklady]

Everything is fine. Normal droppings, worming up to date, no messy vent etc. Just rather odd. I have added some probiotics to her water. She is still out there drinking but otherwise seems fine.

Kym , two things come to mind when I see excessive thirst. Salmonella poisoning or impacted crop.
With the humidity we've all been experiencing any uneaten food could be suspect and then there are those rotten rats. I would quarantine her , if for no other reason , just to look at her poop and monitor her feed intake. Sounds like she is one of your favorites .

 

[Fancychooklady]

Well that worked out rather well! Now to make a back-up for when the one she's wearing gets dirty. I made this one out of cotton jersey which I -always- forget is an absolute pain to sew. Next one I'll make from breathable cotton and I'll make the elastic just a little longer. Hers is snugger than I'd like. Pardon the food all over the floor. My 4 year old had just finished dinner while I was finishing sewing and apparently wanted to "feed the chicken" steak and bacon pie. XD

Gorgeous boy , he has your eyes.

 

[tandykins]

Gorgeous boy , he has your eyes.

Thank you! He's an incredible cutie patootie and has an intense love for science and animals. He's my little biologist.

 

[appps]

I keep getting soft shelled eggs cos they wont eat anything but chick starter. And of clearly not eating the calcium. Cant put it in water cos of the chicks. Roll on may so they can all be on layer pellets.

I found it's worked to have some higher feeders the chick can't reach with the layer feed in it. That way at least they are getting some.

 

[Georgie141]

Because this is an Aussie thread, I thought somebody could answer my question. I live out in the country and I was wondering if it is safe to have chicks in summer. It gets really hot and plus we have had multiple brown snakes hanging around the chook shed (they are attracted to the water.) Do you reckon a snake would go for any of the chicks?