Broken eggs

[khowell31875]

My girls have finally started laying in the coop and not in the woods. But now atleast one egg a day is broken. The shells on some eggs seem to be thinner than others. They are free range and also hava access to a feeder. Is their diet lacking something or is this normal?

 

[TexasVet]

If the shells are thin, they need more calcium. Are you feeding them Layena or another brand of layer feed? If not, you need to make oyster shell available in a separate dish. It's cheap, lasts a long time, and most feed stores carry it.

Kathy, Bellville TX
www.CountryChickens.com

 

[sundance]

I bought some hard shell from the co op in town, think its about the same as oyster shell. supposed to harden the shells, I just mix it with the layer pellets, DE and hardshell and pour in feeder. My hens stay in the run untill about noon then I turn them out to free range. marrie

 

[worldwidechick]

There are a couple of ways to give the calcium. The oyster shells are easy, free=feed them in a small dish. You can also recycle egg shells, bake them at 300 F for 20 to 30 minutes and then crush them up fine and feed them back to the hens. You can also feed TUMS, 1 or 2 in an emergency. Also, offer them grit if you don't already, they need it for their "teeth". Good luck.