Broken Egg from Leghorn Almost Every Day

[aart]

Angel’s egg today. Well within normal even with the simple at the top. Cruella often has this same dimple at the top of her eggs too.

That could be too much calcium, or a shell gland malfunction(temporary or not).

 

[jlwquilter]

That could be too much calcium, or a shell gland malfunction(temporary or not).

I'm leaning toward shell glad malfunction - hopefully temporary. They are still feathering out as well. They were in rough shape when I got them May1. Things have improved greatly with them and I think there's just a bit more to go before they are back to 100%.

I'm thinking about using the layer pellets for making the fermented feed - that'll give them the calcium needed - and continue to have the flock raiser available as free choice feed 24/7. And of course, as always, the free choice of the crushed eggshells.

There's so many variables!

 

[Chickassan]

Pellets don't ferment too well, you can add water and just make a mash or skip the middleman and feed layer crumbles.
Worth mentioning, a lot of hens wont eat pellets so crumbles are a better bet.

I'm leaning toward shell glad malfunction - hopefully temporary. They are still feathering out as well. They were in rough shape when I got them May1. Things have improved greatly with them and I think there's just a bit more to go before they are back to 100%.

I'm thinking about using the layer pellets for making the fermented feed - that'll give them the calcium needed - and continue to have the flock raiser available as free choice feed 24/7. And of course, as always, the free choice of the crushed eggshells.

There's so many variables!

 

[jlwquilter]

I didn't know that about pellets and fermenting - thanks! I did add layer pellets to the fermented liquid yesterday evening. I was almost out of the fermented feed made with crumbles. This morning the feed had sucked up all the liquid so I guess the mash is a little fermented that way.

My chickens definitely prefer the crumbles to the pellets. They'd always been on pellets until I switched to the flock raiser when I got younger non-laying pullets a few months ago. That just comes in crumbles.

Like I said - so many variables!

 

[aart]

And of course, as always, the free choice of the crushed eggshells.

The reason folks say OS is better than egg shell is that OS stays in the gizzard longer
OS is cheap and stores well, 50# for like $10, no reason not to have some available.
I have OS always available and mix with crushed egg shells when I have them.

There's so many variables!

Yep. Find the balance that works for you.

 

[Chickassan]

Don't I know it! You'd think feeding chickens would be fairly simple and there wouldn't be much to it but there are a nutty amount of choices.

I didn't know that about pellets and fermenting - thanks! I did add layer pellets to the fermented liquid yesterday evening. I was almost out of the fermented feed made with crumbles. This morning the feed had sucked up all the liquid so I guess the mash is a little fermented that way.

My chickens definitely prefer the crumbles to the pellets. They'd always been on pellets until I switched to the flock raiser when I got younger non-laying pullets a few months ago. That just comes in crumbles.

Like I said - so many variables!

 

[jlwquilter]

There's crushed oyster shell naturally in the sand that I use for the flooring of the coop. So they have that to pick from as well. They really do have everything they need available as free choice. That's why I am leaning more and more toward shell issues are due to a shell gland issue either from feathering or recovering from poor health when I got them or a biological anomally the hen just has... or a combo of all of that!

 

[Chicken Heel]

I had this issue when my latest mixed flock of hens (now 2 years old) first started laying and an Austra White pullet seemed to be developing an affinity for eggs. I gave them a bowl of milk for a couple of days and have had no more problems since. I give them oyster shells free choice and occasionally still give them a bowl of milk for a treat which they love. I would advise never giving hens eggs shells, crumbled or otherwise. They go in the compost bin.

 

[Raven72ab]

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[Raven72ab]

I was given this video in a post i had about wind eggs