Bad eggs

[Gemacres]

Seeking advice...I gave my chickens a treat by mixing in a specialty feed containing sunflower seeds. Realized my two orpington's were eating only the seeds. They got mean- fighting the other chickens for the seeds, lost feathers and eggs became paper thin. This over a two week period. I removed all the seeds and gave all the chickens straight 17% feed plus some dried herbs, occasional electrolytes in a separate waterer and keep their free feed oyster shell full. I gave them no other treats of any kind. That was over 2 months ago. One bounced back but the other still has bare shafts on her wings and lays paper thin eggs. Could something else be going on? She appears perfectly healthy except for the feathers and eggs?!?!

 

[Debbie292d]

I'm not really sure what this specialty stuff was that would cause chickens to start fighting, but sounds like it's good they're off of it.

It's possible she's molting. They don't usually lay when molting, but I've had some funky eggs when they got done molting.

Bare shafts could also be a sign of parasites or a continuation of feather picking. Look her over for any signs of mites. If you see or suspect any, permethrin/garden powder works well to get rid of them on birds and in the coop.

Overcrowding can also cause feather picking and fighting. They should have 4 sq feet for each of them in your coop, and 10-15 sq feet each in a run.

Higher protein helps with feather growth, so you could suppliment with things like scrambled eggs, tuna (in water), a little canned catfood, etc. Or, switch to an all-flock that has higher protein. Our all-flock is Kalmbach's Flock Maker crumbles, 20% protein, and it's good for our baby chicks, grown hens, roosters, and ducks. We just do the oyster shell on the side for the hens. For scratch/treats, they get Kalmbach's Henhouse Reserve, and sometimes scrambled eggs.