BlueSeal Home Fresh Extra Egg or green mountain organic?

[flwrldy]

Tip trimming should not have been a problem. I thought that you might have trimmed back into the quick. Are your birds molting ?

I don’t know because this has been going on for over a month so it started in June/ July.

 

[flwrldy]

As previously said, check them for molt. You will see pin feathers coming in somewhere, look around tail and vent, under wings around head and neck. Molt can be very soft and almost not noticeable sometimes, but will still stop them laying. I don't see whether you have oyster shell available for them. If not, that could contribute to weak shells. I mix oyster shell 50/50 with ground up egg shells and they like it better that way, you should have it available all the time in a separate feeder so they can take what they need for calcium, needs can vary from bird to bird. I would find a feed that is 18-20% protein and is either crumbles or pellets so that they can't pick and choose which parts they eat. Whether crumbles or pellets is just your preference or whichever they seem to like best. And make sure that your treats (which is everything except feed-even the 'good stuff') isn't more than 10% of their diet. What they eat in that is not going to be eaten in feed, and can make a big difference it the total protein they actually take in.

Yes we feed them ground oyster shells and I have a grit that my supplier said is also a calcium. I not only mix it in their food, but I also have it freestyle.
That’s good stuff to know, thank you, about the molting but it’s been going on a month and a half, unless they started in the middle of July. Yes I try to give them a med sized laundry basket filled up with greens every day, so maybe I should kind of a lower that? It’s because my mother who is in her 80’s complains that they are yolks aren’t deep enough orange.. she buys eggs from me. So I figured more greens and lycopien would help. I think their deep enough anyway whether there a deep yellow or a deep orange, but she likes the deep deep orange almost red ones..
I think I’ll stick with the higher protein feed then. I was afraid to try the non-organic blue seal one and it’s only 16% protein but it’s supposed to help with egg production I don’t know how it’s such a low protein but that’s what it says.

 

[coach723]

While molt commonly starts in fall or late summer, there are exceptions. I have one that is completely done with molt already, several that are mid molt, and some that haven't started yet, so there can be quite a variation in 'normal'. Some feeds add dried calendula (marigold) petals for color in yolks, you could mix some into your feed, probably wouldn't take much per pound of feed and see if it helps your yolk color. Apparently alfalfa will darken them also. http://www.livingthecountrylife.com/animals/chickens-poultry/feeding-chickens-orange-yolks/

 

[flwrldy]

While molt commonly starts in fall or late summer, there are exceptions. I have one that is completely done with molt already, several that are mid molt, and some that haven't started yet, so there can be quite a variation in 'normal'. Some feeds add dried calendula (marigold) petals for color in yolks, you could mix some into your feed, probably wouldn't take much per pound of feed and see if it helps your yolk color. Apparently alfalfa will darken them also. http://www.livingthecountrylife.com/animals/chickens-poultry/feeding-chickens-orange-yolks/

Thank you that’s good to know I didn’t know that. I have in the past a few times tried the purina organic one with the calendar/marigold in it. I think it was called Purina Layena, but it was so expensive for a small bag so I even bought Calendar the flowers online but the chickens didn’t care for them LOL .

 

[flwrldy]

Does anyone know what would be causing the soft egg shells? They’re like tissue paper..

 

[flwrldy]

Also I’m going to go look at them closely and see if they are actually melting, haha molting.. maybe I’ll hear them saying, I’m molting I’m molting ..lol I couldn’t help myself LOL

 

[GreenMountainEric]

Does anyone know what would be causing the soft egg shells? They’re like tissue paper..

Hi flwrldy,
I'll see if I can add any help here. Sorry for the late reply. I am just seeing this thread.

The first thing I would definitely note, is the age of your hens. It is definitely time for them to be molting. Usually around 60-65 weeks of age you will start to see a substantial decline in production, and sporadic shell quality issues. This will continue to progress, and get worse, through about 80 weeks of age. Close to this time, they will go through a Molt, or they should be induced to do so. After they have completed the molt process, they will soon resume a normal laying process for another year or so. Second cycles will not usually produce quite as good as the first, but pretty darn close.

I would also suggest minimizing the treats, and added forages, etc.. It is good that you are making that effort, but overdoing it can have a negative impact. Most feeds are designed, and balanced, to be the primary diet. The feed company has taken into consideration that the birds will most likely be free ranging, but they have not balanced the feed for large amounts of unknown additions. This can have a huge impact for the total dietary balance of your chickens. It is best to provide a high quality layer feed, free choice, at all times, and allow your hens to free range for the other stuff they want.

Treats, scratch feeds, and other additional supplementation to the diet is fine (and fun for the chickens)....... But it should be kept under about 10-15% of their total diet (If you want them to have a balanced diet with a commercial layer feed).

Please feel free to reach out to me for any help or questions. Hopefully this helps out a little bit.

-Eric

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

It’s because my mother who is in her 80’s complains that they are yolks aren’t deep enough orange.. she buys eggs from me. So I figured more greens and lycopien would help. I think their deep enough anyway whether there a deep yellow or a deep orange, but she likes the deep deep orange almost red ones..
I think I’ll stick with the higher protein feed then. I was afraid to try the non-organic blue seal one and it’s only 16% protein but it’s supposed to help with egg production I don’t know how it’s such a low protein but that’s what it says.

You charge your mom eggs?! Seriously?? I don't know what to think of this........

 

[flwrldy]

Hi flwrldy,
I'll see if I can add any help here. Sorry for the late reply. I am just seeing this thread.

The first thing I would definitely note, is the age of your hens. It is definitely time for them to be molting. Usually around 60-65 weeks of age you will start to see a substantial decline in production, and sporadic shell quality issues. This will continue to progress, and get worse, through about 80 weeks of age. Close to this time, they will go through a Molt, or they should be induced to do so. After they have completed the molt process, they will soon resume a normal laying process for another year or so. Second cycles will not usually produce quite as good as the first, but pretty darn close.

I would also suggest minimizing the treats, and added forages, etc.. It is good that you are making that effort, but overdoing it can have a negative impact. Most feeds are designed, and balanced, to be the primary diet. The feed company has taken into consideration that the birds will most likely be free ranging, but they have not balanced the feed for large amounts of unknown additions. This can have a huge impact for the total dietary balance of your chickens. It is best to provide a high quality layer feed, free choice, at all times, and allow your hens to free range for the other stuff they want.

Treats, scratch feeds, and other additional supplementation to the diet is fine (and fun for the chickens)....... But it should be kept under about 10-15% of their total diet (If you want them to have a balanced diet with a commercial layer feed).

Please feel free to reach out to me for any help or questions. Hopefully this helps out a little bit.

-Eric

Thank you for your reply. It is definitely a molt. I am currently giving them organic turkey feed for the higher protein, which is killing me in price, but it upped their egg production dramatically, from 2 eggs to 9 eggs, but avarage about 6/7 eggs a day. We are added 12 more laying chicken the same age as mine now, who are not molting, yet, on Sunday. So I need to find a good NON GMO feed , because the organic is to expensive now, and with 38 birds it will break the bank. Our birds no longer free range, but do have a HUGE chicken yard, about a 1/4 acre to play in, and an additional closed in run which I currently am keeping a rooster that is picked on, and 3 pullets..

 

[flwrldy]

You charge your mom eggs?! Seriously?? I don't know what to think of this........

Only 2 dollars a dozen, I normally charge 4 for chicken and 5 for duck, and only because the price of the feed is killing us. We are spending 70 a WEEK in feed. We spend way way to much on feed and don’t make it back in eggs. Plus she insists
I’m currently looking for a non gmo feed