Broken Egg from Leghorn Almost Every Day

[BigBlueHen53]

PS - please don't think of it as "pushback," people here really only want to be helpful and help you do what's best for your flock.
Edit: typo

 

[rachelsflock]

To the OP-I suggest layer pellet. Leghorns have serious calcium needs. I've had California Whites that actually lay MORE than leghorns since they are leghorn hybrids, and I don't think flock raiser is going to cut it. Oyster shell on the side too. The layer pellet is specifically made for commercial layers, which is what you've got, and the calcium will be picked at as needed from there. Then wait and pray-maybe limit free range and other foods until this resolves. Looks like a calcium deficiency. Sometimes also the heavy layers have inherited or freak laying issues and it is dangerous for them no matter what you do. You could also consider worming, but I doubt that's an issue here. It will resolve if it is a calcium issue. If it does not resolve, you'll need to accept that you won't be getting her egg regularly, give her a good life, however long it winds up being or off her.

My cali-white girls would get soft shells if they free ranged too much, which made me sad. They were also not that great at free ranging in the first place, but apparently it was enough to dilute the feed nutrition. Dehydration and being too hot can also cause soft shells.

Good luck either way.

 

[alanpeg2u]

I had a few of those eggs with my hens, too. I increased their calcium by giving them the oyster grit you get from the store but I also do my SURE way; that is to save the egg shells then put them in the oven on about 170-190 degrees for an hour or 2 or so. Then, grind them to an almost powder in the blender. I dump some in their feed trough with their food and some days mix some in with some eggs to scramble for them, specifically. It's the best way to KNOW they got some calcium in them.

 

[Spiritsmeadow]

I have 4 leghorns (have 18 hens total plus 1 young cockerel). I’ve had a lot of issues the last 6 weeks but the last 2 weeks egg laying has really Picked up. But I’m having a almost daily leghorn egg problem.

The egg is usually on or under the roost boards. It always flat/deflated, sometimes with the insides leaked out. The shell is rubbery.

I feed flock raiser and have eggshells available free choice. I rarely see any of the leghorns eat the shells but actually say one chowing down on them this afternoon. Another one took a quick nibble and moved on. Also I have a natural Sandy floor
that is littered with oyster shells.

I have tried to narrow it down to the affected hen but as the egg laying happens so early I can only go by which other leghorns lay. And they use 2 laying boxes in different areas of the run and I can’t see both boxes at the same time so I don’t know for sure who laid. Just when I think I know who has the issue she lays a good egg on the same day the broken egg also happens. But right now my best guess is it’s Angel.

I did try separating 3 of them and feeding them some eggshells mixed with scrambled eggs a few days ago. Isis gobbled hers down but Angel and Bo Peep were too freaked out by caging to eat or drink. All 4 leghorns tend to be the first to roost at night so they come into the coop first. I’ve put out moist flock raiser with a small amount of eggshell sprinkled on top for them to have a go at right before roosting. Only 1 or 2 will pick at it - I think they are too intent on roosting and not very hungry as they’ve already filled up.

I also recently put out a feeder that has layer pellets with the oyster shell incorporated into it. Any hen can eat from that. I did see one leghorn eat from it as well as a few hens but overall the flock raiser crumbles is hands down the feed of choice for all of them.

What should I do? I can house 2 most likely suspects individually in separate areas within the run and ride out their unhappiness until they calm down and hopefully lay (or don’t). I’m concerned the stress of separation will only make things worse overall. I’m also concerned that the consistent egg issue is due to a very bad underlying issue. I have health checked everyone twice within the last few days. Since I now know to look I do see small bumblefoot sores on 2 of the leghorns. This is a new issue for me to deal with and I haven’t had a chance to research how to handle it. I see no other health issues.

I am also curious about how the timing of the egg laying. It’s always there - if it happens that day (say 6 out of 7 days) - so early in the morning. If it takes 25-27 hours to make an egg wouldn’t the laying of the bad egg be getting later each day? It makes me think the egg is dropping out of the hen Rather than being properly laid and she may not know it’s happening.

All The leghorns are
Acting and pooping normally.

Any guesses as to what’s happening?

 

[Spiritsmeadow]

If your chickens are coming out of a molt their shells will be like tissue paper & rubber sometimes. They need more calcium. I'd take the egg shells away ASAP because you're teaching them "yumm something to eat" so of course, when they see another egg...they'll EAT IT. I feed Nutrena feeds...I mix Hearty Hen and Egg Producer, a total of 28% calcium and my chickens lay all year even in the Colorado winters (I heat my coop) and they stopped eating eggs when I put wooden eggs into the nests. You can find these at Hobby Lobby. The wooden eggs also encourage hens to lay...as if someone got into the nest before they did and harooomph! they laid an egg! hahahaha Good Luck

 

[MommaRoo]

Your hens are way too old for flock raiser. They need regular layer feed and a free choice calcium source available on the side. In my experience chickens began a steady improvement in eggshell strength, when I switched to a better layer pellet. Store/co-op brands were less expensive for me to buy, but the improvement in shell quality, and thus more eggs for the table made it cost effective. The strength of the eggshells will not improve overnight.

It has also been my experience that shell-less egg layers never got better for me. They were either too old or had an incurable infection so I removed them from the flock.

 

[AmyJane725]

Sorry if some of this has been mentioned before. Didn't have time to read the entire post.

If the eggshells you are giving as a calcium supplement are coming from hens that don't have enough calcium to begin with they're not really going to do the job. And the calcium available in layer feed often isn't enough on its own either.

Have a designated container of crushed oyster shells available at all times. You don't need to worry about portioning out the calcium. Hens know how much they need and they will eat it accordingly, so don't restrict access for fear of overdosing them. Just don't mix it in with their food, because then they can't control how much they're getting.

You can continue to feed them flock raiser if you want. Won't hurt anything. And it's good if it doesn't have extra calcium included, because once your girls get too old to lay, the built in calcium in layer feed is unnecessary and will give them kidney problems and can ultimately kill them. This goes for boy birds and birds that are too young to lay as well.

 

[jlwquilter]

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.

However this was Angel’s egg from yesterday.

This is no scientific experiment but it seems if I add the fine grind eggshells to the morning and evening fermented feed then I get good eggs and shells from ALL of my hens. Everyone is now laying except for the rooster of course. The fine grind is still visible and I think any of them could avoiding if they wanted too. Also the eggshell feeder is being eaten out of at a good pace. So they are wanting/needing more calcium that whatever addition I’ve put in the feed.

I’m Going to keep Doing what I’m doing for the next handful of days and see what happens. For good or for bad I’ll report back here.

 

[aart]

Your hens are way too old for flock raiser

Umm... many people feed Flock Raiser(Purina) for the birds entire lives.
It's a higher protein and lower calcium for mixed aged and gendered flocks.
Oyster shell is given 'on the side' for the layers in the flock.

 

[Ladies-Eight]

I give my chickens calcium every so often. The eggshells do not have the maximum amount of calcium needed. I put my eggshells in with their treat.