Chickens eating pine shavings

[rosemarythyme]

The hen in question is 11 months old. She was laying regularly up until a few weeks ago when the soft shelled eggs started. She is acting normally now, and I do see her at the feeder quite often. However, she has not layed an egg (soft shelled or otherwise) for over a week now.

Well hopefully it's just a glitch in the system. While she's not a "new" layer she's still on the young side so sometimes their system does odd things while trying to get all the kinks to laying out. I have a pullet that was laying poopy eggs everywhere except the nest box, then stopped completely for a while, and is now about 11 mos and only just started laying again (inconsistently, but in the box). Don't know why she stopped or why she was having pooping on eggs but seems she's finally sorting it out.

 

[Fluffnut]

Well hopefully it's just a glitch in the system. While she's not a "new" layer she's still on the young side so sometimes their system does odd things while trying to get all the kinks to laying out. I have a pullet that was laying poopy eggs everywhere except the nest box, then stopped completely for a while, and is now about 11 mos and only just started laying again (inconsistently, but in the box). Don't know why she stopped or why she was having pooping on eggs but seems she's finally sorting it out.

Yup, sounds way too familiar!

 

[vantain]

Well hopefully it's just a glitch in the system. While she's not a "new" layer she's still on the young side so sometimes their system does odd things while trying to get all the kinks to laying out. I have a pullet that was laying poopy eggs everywhere except the nest box, then stopped completely for a while, and is now about 11 mos and only just started laying again (inconsistently, but in the box). Don't know why she stopped or why she was having pooping on eggs but seems she's finally sorting it out.

So it’s not uncommon for them to have these issues at almost 1 year of age, after laying consistently since October?

Since she seems to be ok now, but not laying anything now for over a week, do I need to change her feed? They are all on layer feed. The other three are still laying.

 

[Fairview01]

If shes been laying since October she's been laying between 6-7 months. If she's acting normal in all other respects she may be going through a partial molt.

As far as the soft shell egg - who knows. I've had hens 2+ years pop out a soft shell egg or a tiny fart egg just because.

As far as material I use wheat straw or hay. Whatever is cheaper. Many are fearful of hay causing an impacted crop. Never had it I think because there is always more palatable options available . From their behavior for the first week however they are more active with the wheat straw chasing down every last weed seed in it and when I scatter oats every morning from the looks of the devastation in the run they spend all day searching for them. Activity like that eliminates boredom and all the bad things that go with it.

 

[rosemarythyme]

So it’s not uncommon for them to have these issues at almost 1 year of age, after laying consistently since October?

Since she seems to be ok now, but not laying anything now for over a week, do I need to change her feed? They are all on layer feed. The other three are still laying.

Some chickens may be inconsistent with laying, so that might be the case with her - or yes even a mini molt could also be possible. As far as feed for now I'd keep using layer just because it'd be easier than switching them all off of it when it's only been a week and she may possibly go back to laying again soon, though if she doesn't restart after a while you might consider switching back to a grower or all flock feed if you worry that it's going to negatively impact her.

 

[vantain]

If shes been laying since October she's been laying between 6-7 months. If she's acting normal in all other respects she may be going through a partial molt.

As far as the soft shell egg - who knows. I've had hens 2+ years pop out a soft shell egg or a tiny fart egg just because.

As far as material I use wheat straw or hay. Whatever is cheaper. Many are fearful of hay causing an impacted crop. Never had it I think because there is always more palatable options available . From their behavior for the first week however they are more active with the wheat straw chasing down every last weed seed in it and when I scatter oats every morning from the looks of the devastation in the run they spend all day searching for them. Activity like that eliminates boredom and all the bad things that go with it.

She went through two weeks of soft shelled eggs every day. This week was great, and she didn’t have any eggs, soft or hard, this week.

However, she is feeling unwell again tonight, and it appears she has another soft shelled egg she needs to work out. Poor girl. The past month has been hard on her.

Hopefully she can pass this one tonight. She usually does pass them sometime during the night.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Ugh, sorry that she's not improving. I've never dealt with chronic soft eggs so not sure what to suggest.

 

[vantain]

So weird..yesterday she was lethargic and just standing in a corner with her eyes closed for most of the day. At night, she went in to roost with the others, and I expected she would pass another soft shelled egg during the night. But, this morning, not only was she lively and wanting out of the coop to get food and water, but there was no expelled egg anywhere on the poop board. Her crop was clear too, and it was full of water when she went to roost. Even if the others were to eat the soft shelled egg, there usually is still some evidence of one, like a damp/wet spot in the bedding and yolk spread all over.

So weird. Today she is acting normal again.

 

[vantain]

A further update...

She had a really good week, with no issues. No soft shelled eggs at all. No eggs of any kind actually.

She has been lethargic again for most of today, trying to work out another soft shelled egg. This issue has been going on for over a month now.

I have been giving her extra calcium every day.