Broken Eggs

[BusyGirl57]

I have one chicken that is older about 3 years old and she tries every day or every other day to lay an egg but each time it either comes out without a shell or the shell is so brittle that it breaks from the others moving it around. I have oyster shells and try to be sure they get as much nutrients as possible but don't know what else to do for her. Does anyone have any ideas of what I can perhaps hand feed her to get her to start laying eggs that won't break, have holes or no shell at all??? Thanks

 

[Hamiam]

What kind of feed do you give her?

 

[Welshies]

What kind of feed? Does she free range?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

3 years old...tries every day or every other day to lay an egg but each time it either comes out without a shell or the shell is so brittle that it breaks from the others moving it around.

What type of food/treats do you feed?

Sometimes older layers don't absorb nutrients as well as they used to or it's possible she is getting too many treats that is diluting nutrition.

You can try offering her 1/2tablet of calcium supplement like Caltrate (daily) for a few weeks to see if there is improvement, she may be starting to have some reproductive issues, so keep a watch on her. Poultry vitamins once a week won't hurt either.

 

[BusyGirl57]

What kind of feed do you give her?

I give them all the crumble feed and also scratch and any scraps. The get meale worms and peanut suet balls for treats. They are out when I am home but in a big pen that they have plenty of room to roam--I also make sure they have grit and oyster shells. It is only 1 chicken so I don't think it is what I am feeding.

 

[BusyGirl57]

What type of food/treats do you feed?

Sometimes older layers don't absorb nutrients as well as they used to or it's possible she is getting too many treats that is diluting nutrition.

You can try offering her 1/2tablet of calcium supplement like Caltrate (daily) for a few weeks to see if there is improvement, she may be starting to have some reproductive issues, so keep a watch on her. Poultry vitamins once a week won't hurt either.

Thanks, Ill give that a try. She does want to lay but since the shells are so brittle, the others trample on them and cause them to break.

 

[lazy gardener]

Egg quality is about more than calcium and protein. Her shell gland could be malfunctioning, most likely b/c of her age. what is her breed? If she's a production bird, she's well past her prime, and may be heading into reproductive system failure. I would give her a good quality multi vit. One brand that is manufactured for poultry is called Poultry Nutri-Drench. I'm sure there are others.

 

[BusyGirl57]

Egg quality is about more than calcium and protein. Her shell gland could be malfunctioning, most likely b/c of her age. what is her breed? If she's a production bird, she's well past her prime, and may be heading into reproductive system failure. I would give her a good quality multi vit. One brand that is manufactured for poultry is called Poultry Nutri-Drench. I'm sure there are others.

Thanks for the imput--I will try it.