calcium deficiency in hens

[Nikiliz]

also that she rarely lays eggs

 

[ChickenCanoe]

also that she rarely lays eggs

That may be nutritional but not a calcium problem unless it has been excessive calcium while she hasn't been building egg shells.
It takes amino acids to promote ovulation, not calcium. Calcium doesn't play a significant role till the egg contents reach the uterus (shell gland).

 

[Nikiliz]

same diet as other girl

 

[ChickenCanoe]

In answer to Mary's question, you posted -
"They get fed a good quality scratch mix which all other girls have been fed
She is free range over half an acre and has plenty of fresh water around the paddock
she spends time in the house yard
Gets raw vegetables and shell grit"

But I don't see a complete poultry feed in that paragraph. What is the crude protein % and calcium % of the actual feed? Scratch isn't chicken feed.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

same diet as other girl

Which is?


Protein %? Does the feed have a guaranteed analysis and ingredient label attached to the bag? What is the feed called?

 

[chickengr]

The egg shell is pale
compared to other eggs from the other girl
her eggs are also much smaller and almost round with a spiral pattern of darker colour
They get fed a good quality scratch mix which all other girls have been fed
She is free range over half an acre and has plenty of fresh water around the paddock
she spends time in the house yard
Gets raw vegetables and shell grit

it seems she lays eggs in less than 24 hours (the colour has les time to spread).

free range over half an acre provides enough protein. isa brown chickens are hybrids, a lot of them inbred as well. not all of them are good layers.

 

[Fluffyflufffluff]

have a young isa brown who started laying around 6 moths ago
rarely do i see any eggs from her
when i have they are very pale compared to other hens eggs. Rough textured also
Is there a calcium supplement or something i can do for this

Its really a concern when its calcium, I've tried Small Pet Select Oyster Shell for Chickens, It seems to be a better option for me.

 

[BDutch]

Some hens are less fertile than other hens. This can be genetical. In general you can say: some breeds lay less eggs than other breeds. But it can also differ individual.

But it can also be a sickness like influenza that caused a temporarily or (semi) permanent problem in the ovary system. Sometimes such a problem disappeares after a molt.

Because you’re other hens lay normal eggs its probably not the feed that is the cause of this strange eggs. Can you post a photo of such an egg? You can search for an article about unusual eggs too.

Beside this: most experts say its best to give production hens layer feed as a basic feed. But if you have older hens and roosters this may be too high on calcium. And if the chickens free range its not necessary to give a layer feed.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Some hens are less fertile than other hens. This can be genetical. In general you can say: some breeds lay less eggs than other breeds. But it can also differ individual.

But it can also be a sickness like influenza that caused a temporarily or (semi) permanent problem in the ovary system. Sometimes such a problem disappeares after a molt.

Because you’re other hens lay normal eggs its probably not the feed that is the cause of this strange eggs. Can you post a photo of such an egg? You can search for an article about unusual eggs too.

Beside this: most experts say its best to give production hens layer feed as a basic feed. But if you have older hens and roosters this may be too high on calcium. And if the chickens free range its not necessary to give a layer feed.

I agree with most of that but free ranging won't provide sufficient calcium to prolific layers unless there is a lot of limestone in the area. Otherwise, there isn't anything in normal forage that is high in calcium carbonate.

 

[Shadrach]

Egg laying, as in the number per year is breed dependent, assuming the hen is otherwise healthy.
Hight production breeds were not bred with a mixed free range flock in mind.
This can pose feeding problems with regard to calcium and protein.
@Nikiliz You would get far better information if you posted a picture of the eggs you are concerned about, a picture of the label of the feed you give and more detail regarding your keeping arrangements.
Very roughly each egg shell (average sized egg) uses 2 grams of calcium. If a hen lays daily and is contained in a run, then all the calcium she requires must come from the feed you supply. In fact, all her nutrition will come from the feed unless you have a particularly large well managed run.
So the minimum calcium in the feed should be above 2 grams; some extra is used fro other purposes and some will go to store in the hens cortical bones for use when calcium from diet is low.
I leave calcium carbonate available here but it rarely gets eaten. None of the hens here are high production hens (over 150 eggs per year)
With free range hens there are many other sources of calcium including the well water they drink with is high in calcium.