Chicken squatting

[ElaynasChick]

our 6 month old girls just started laying. one hen (rooster) had put out an egg every day for 3 weeks now. she was squatting a week prior. the second (belina) just started squatting last week and is on day 3 of laying now

So... She laid an egg today!! it's tiny, because she is tiny but i bet soon it will be a big leghorn egg when she is a big leghorn. she is only five months and like 15 days. the egg has a very strong shell, i was worried that it wouldn't because i am feeding chick starter/grower and i will forever because it seems from everyone on this backyard chicken website/forum thinks it is best to stick too starter/grower so i was just a little hesitant to to stay on starter/grower instead of layer but it seems to be working great!!

 

[ElaynasChick]

Proud mama.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

So... She laid an egg today!! it's tiny, because she is tiny but i bet soon it will be a big leghorn egg when she is a big leghorn. she is only five months and like 15 days. the egg has a very strong shell, i was worried that it wouldn't because i am feeding chick starter/grower and i will forever because it seems from everyone on this backyard chicken website/forum thinks it is best to stick too starter/grower so i was just a little hesitant to to stay on starter/grower instead of layer but it seems to be working great!!

Congratulation!
Just make sure that they have oyster shell in a separate container available all the time. You can continue feeding grower but without a source of calcium a leghorn will quickly run out of body stores of calcium and end up with rickets. With a prolific layer like that, it can happen in a matter of days.

 

[aart]

but without a source of calcium a leghorn will quickly run out of body stores of calcium and end up with rickets.

What will happen first @ChickenCanoe ...rickets or thin/soft shell eggs?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

What will happen first @ChickenCanoe ...rickets or thin/soft shell eggs?

I think both will be concurrent. Thinning shells will be the first thing noticed but thinning shells is the indication that all the available calcium in the medullary bones is nearly depleted.

 

[aart]

I think both will be concurrent. Thinning shells will be the first thing noticed but thinning shells is the indication that all the available calcium in the medullary bones is nearly depleted.

Will have to look at my next thin sheller, see if her legs are wonky....haven't noticed that in the past.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I think once the skeletal damage is done, it may not be reversible. Treatment is vitamin D3 at about 3 times normal amount for a couple weeks. However, excess D3 can be toxic.
The balance of calcium to phosphorus is important. Excessive calcium can tie up available phosphorus and prevent nutrient uptake. Birds on range with sunshine may get sufficient D3 to supplement that in feed.

 

[Shadrach]

Osteoporosis used to be a major problem years ago in battery hens. It's caused by constantly depleted calcium deposits.
A hen will source calcium from her cortical bones in order to make a shell. While the hen is getting some calcium (lots of factors determining how much) she will use it to shell her eggs in preference to topping up the cortical bones.
It's one of the reasons I question much of the advice on immediate calcium supplements for hens that lay lash eggs.
Calcium depeletion isn't a okay one day and none the next situation. It's a gradual business, even when added calcium is in short supply there is enough calcium in forage etc and in any commercial feed I've ever seen to ensure that some calcium is available.
Here the old timers will tell you lash eggs have nothing to do with a calcium deficiency.

 

[ElaynasChick]

Congratulation!
Just make sure that they have oyster shell in a separate container available all the time. You can continue feeding grower but without a source of calcium a leghorn will quickly run out of body stores of calcium and end up with rickets. With a prolific layer like that, it can happen in a matter of days.

Yes they have a feeder of oyster shells always full

 

[ElaynasChick]

So i also want to switch to organic feed so that the eggs i eat will be good (i know my chickens will never be "Organic" chickens but the egg yolks where bright yellow and i want them too be orange like a healthy egg, so i think i will switch to organic chick starter/grower.