Calcium and egg-layers

[Suzannez]

I have two chickens who have laid a few soft eggs then stopped laying altogether. I want to do the right thing and improve their nutrition... nothing has changed in their diets so what made this happen? Something they are foraging ? (they free-range several hours a day but go to the coop with water and organic food when there is no supervision to protect from predators) They are young... around a year and have previously been productive.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

What feed are they on? What type of chickens? I added some vitamins - vitamin d3 and some crushed tums and my one chicken that was laying soft eggs has cleared up and is back to laying regular eggs for now.

 

[GC-Raptor]

In summer there is a lot to eat where I live. So if they forage most of the day, they will not eat as much feed, which has the nutrients needed for egg production. And to top it off they eat less feed in warm weather, than cold weather.
I only let my hens out to forage an hour before sunset daily, weather permitting.
Check your feed for mold or bugs. Smell the feed if it has a strong smell or smells musty or damp, get rid of it. Thoroughly wash feeder.
Are you buying a large bag of feed?
With only 2 chickens a 40/50# bag would go bad before its used up.
I had egg production drop by 50% last month, when the feed was 5 months 1 week old, from mill date. This feed was stored in original bag tightly closed with a bag clip in my house at room temperature. Feed was added to feeder weekly. Bag stays in house.
The feed looked good, smelled bad.
I thoroughly washed the feeder and refilled with fresh feed, (smelled like fresh grains) less than a month old from mill date.
In 2 days egg laying was back to normal.
For 2 chickens I would purchase a 10# bag, 20# max.
I let the hens feeder get nearly empty and clean monthly in damp or humid weather. My feeder is in the coop.
Feed stored in coop or shed in varying temps will not last 5 months.
Organic feed doesn't sell nearly as fast as regular Non-Organic feed. Check the mill date before you buy. Hope you figure it out. Offer Oyster Shells in a separate container, even if you feed a layers feed. GC

 

[Chris2018]

Could be a number of things causing your problem.

- Age of birds
- Excessive heat
- Not taking in enough water
- Low protein intake
- Incorrect calcium intake
- Incorrect phosrous intake
- Low vitamin D intake
- Incorrect magnesium intake
- Improper fat in diet

These all affect shell quality.
I would make sure there taking in plenty of water and feed them befor letting them out to free range. Also, cut back on the time out of the pen and them eating a bunch of grass.
Grass can deplete proteins fast.
You can also offer oyster shells in a bowl off to the side for them.

 

[Suzannez]

Thanks, Everyone! They are Rhode Island Red mixtures. They are on New Country Organic feed. Also, one has been de-beaked (Please understand, it happened BEFORE I got her!) She seems lighter than her sister. What can I give her to bulk her up? PS: I have a total of 6 girls. These are just my two newest

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I added some manna pro egg maker and manna pro poultry conditioner to my chickens feed a little of each. Is it needed? Probably not, but they are loving it. It might help the one to bulk up. But, if the others don't let her get to the feed, she might not bulk up.
Are they RIR or brown sex linked chickens like Isa Browns or Golden Comets? Sex link chickens tend to have egg laying issues since the are bred to lay eggs every day.
Is the feed a layer feed? Even if it is, you might want to add calcium on the side with either crushed egg shells or oyster shell.

 

[Kiki]

Thanks, Everyone! They are Rhode Island Red mixtures. They are on New Country Organic feed. Also, one has been de-beaked (Please understand, it happened BEFORE I got her!) She seems lighter than her sister. What can I give her to bulk her up? PS: I have a total of 6 girls. These are just my two newest

You can with to a higher protein feed and you could also wet it to help her be able to scoop it up better.

Have you ever dewormed?
Checked for lice and or mites?

 

[Chris2018]

Thanks, Everyone! They are Rhode Island Red mixtures. They are on New Country Organic feed. Also, one has been de-beaked (Please understand, it happened BEFORE I got her!) She seems lighter than her sister. What can I give her to bulk her up? PS: I have a total of 6 girls. These are just my two newest

Since your feeding New Country I'll assume you want to stay organic.
What you can do is offer the New Country Grower/Broiler mixed in there regular feed then offer oyster shells in a bowl off to the side. Also feed and water them befor they are turned out to free range.

Another thought would be if you havent treated for cocci, worms, or mites you might want too.