chalky egg shell?

[proudmommie31]

I have noticed that one of the hens, I don't know which one but I only get one a day) is laying eggs with a chalky surface. Not every day but a few times a week. Otherwise the egg is perfect shaped and hard shelled. I googled and read that it can be caused by stress. I had three next boxes (15 hens) but they were all different and they only used 1, sometimes 2 of them. I've been finding eggs on the coop floor if they couldn't get into the "preferred" box. Tonight I went out and took those out and put 4 new, exactly the same design, nest boxes in the coop. They eat Purina Layena Omega 3 (oyster strong the bag says). Is there anything else I might need to do for them, or will adding the additional box and making them all the same do the trick? (of lessening stress and providing plenty of nesting space)

*no signs of illness, bright eyes, glossy feathers, eating and drinking fine for all
* 8x10 coop, 16x30 run/coop combined space, they mostly freerange all day
*15 hens
*Had 3 next boxes, all different designs, now have 4 exactly the same boxes
*they have all only been laying for about a month

 

[21hens-incharge]

New layers sometimes have glitches.

Your coop is a good size, you feed an appropriate feed, you have enough nest boxes.

If you are giving treats like scratch, corn or goodies from the kitchen make sure you aren't giving more than 10% of their daily intake.

Other than perhaps the treats just give her time to adjust her paint department.

 

[proudmommie31]

They've been getting a cup of organic scratch grains in am and one in the pm......I'll cut that back.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Yeah I would toss just half that amount.

I have 27 adult birds and toss out just a cup a day.

 

[Melky]

They've been getting a cup of organic scratch grains in am and one in the pm......I'll cut that back.

Should really only be giving couple of tablespoons of treats per day per bird or less. Just rough estimate to go by. Any stress can alter a birds laying including changing nesting boxes. Might work itself out. Just concentrate on feed, water, poultry grit and oyster shell on the side.

 

[Melky]

Delayed laying from reduced number of boxes can cause a chalky appearance. Would watch to see if box numbers going up reduce waiting. If not add more.

 

[proudmommie31]

16 tb is 1 cup.....so with 15 chickens, 2 tb each would be 2 cups total in a day.....but I'll cut out the am treat and just let them have a tb each in the pm as we encourage them to round up and go to bed. Other than that, all bases are covered so hopefully she will even out. I didn't get one today. But there were like 4 eggs on the coop floor. Hoping 4 exactly the same nest boxes solves that lol

 

[Justso]

What kind of hens do you have?

 

[Melky]

You might put false eggs in box if laying eggs on floor. Make sure they are clean and comfy so they are more likely to use them.

 

[proudmommie31]

What kind of hens do you have?

I have rhode island reds, light brahma, speckled sussex, buff orpingtons, golden laced wyandotte and easter eggers. oh and light brown leghorns

 

[21hens-incharge]

The Brahmas need a little extra room in the nest box too.
Mine will lay on the floor if the nests aren't big enough.

I use 14" wide 16" deep and 16" tall for them. I am sure they wouldn't mind even bigger.