Brittle & Rough Egg Shells -- Any ideas how to fix this?

[Chick_a_dee]

I asked about this earlier and was given some great suggestions, I bought some BOSS in hopes of it being a remedy to a hen that is laying very brittle and rough eggs.

Is there anything I can do to stop this? ... I think I know which hen it is now, and she doesn't seem thin, or underweight so she's getting all the same food as the others, her comb is a lot smaller than theirs but she's been laying for quite a while now.

ALSO I AM FEEDING OYSTER SHELLS FREE CHOICE AND IN THEIR FEED, THEY ALSO GET LOTS OF CRUSHED UP EGG SHELLS. WE LIVE IN CANADA IF THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

 

[congdon476]

are you feeding oyster shells too?

 

[Chick_a_dee]

Yes I am, freechoice and I throw a handful or two into the feeder.

They also get an alfalfa mix hay in the run and on snowy days in the hen house.

 

[MandyH]

Oyster shell is needed

 

[sandspoultry]

Also, Southern States makes a feed grade calcium that you can add to feed. It's finer than oyster shell. We use that for our larger birds during peak laying season

Steve in NC

 

[Wynette]

Here's a chart that shows pictures of examples of issues with eggs, and offers suggestions on how to remedy:

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/ourbooks/1/egg-quality-handbook/

 

[Chick_a_dee]

Quote:
I get blood spots as well, not too many but maybe once a week or two. It suggests that too much light can cause this, should I lower my light from 14 hrs to something more around 12 hours? or 10? ... and if so... can I start taking them down a half an hour a week until I reach that number of hours?

Also, it states that possible reasons why I get these types of eggs is a defective shell gland, or too much salt in the water. We do have a water softener so before I go ahead and cull her, I'll try them on the barn water which isn't on a softener.

 

[PandoraTaylor]

might want to try a full spectrum bulb for their light as well.