Connecticut!

[Beth G.]

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[Beth G.]

I probably won't decide till December if I'm going. It all depends on what my stock is looking like in winter before I decided

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[BirdsinBethel]

So my 5 girls are now 22 and 23 weeks old. My barred rock has been laying almost daily since October 1st, a nice brown egg in the nest box. I just checked and she's in their right now doing her thing.
Today when my husband let the girls out of their coop, he said there was a poorly formed, patchy shelled white egg under the roosting pole, with the barred rock pecking at it. By the time he finished opening the door and letting the other girls out, all that was left was the egg yolk.
Now, maybe this is a good sign that another girl is starting to lay - but who? Hubby said what there was of the shell looked white-but I think all my breeds lay brown or colored (Easter Egger, SLW, Partridge Rock, Light Brahma, bared rock).
Any idea what happened??

 

[Beth G.]

When pullets begin to lay sometimes while roosting at night they drop a soft shell. What you are seeing is the membrane and not the shell. This is absolutely normal. Yes one of your girls is getting ready to start laying. But, I can't say who sorry

But, I hope this helps.

Try to bump up the protein level of the feed for a few days and if you aren't doing so already please give them oyster shells all times of the day.
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[blkpoodles]

i might be going just to watch since i dont have anyone to show yet.

Beth G. :

I probably won't decide till December if I'm going. It all depends on what my stock is looking like in winter before I decided

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[BirdsinBethel]

Thanks Beth, I was thinking it might be something like that. He said it was a patchy shell but he only saw it briiefly. They have oyster shell in the coop but maybe I need to put some out where they free range during the day; I've seen them go back into the coop during the day but maybe they're not eating oyster shell in there... fingers crossed that tomorrow it will be a good egg!!

 

[Beth G.]

If you feel they are not eating the oyster shells and you see anymore softshell eggs dropped below the nest I would go for a 20% Protein level feed for 2 wks then off for 2 and see how they do. Sometimes pullets at POL (point of lay) need a boost b/c to lay eggs takes alot out of them and this time of year with the temps dropping at night, and the loss of daylight hours a bump in protein is good.

But, do not always feed 20% to them all the time b/c that is hard for the kidneys and liver to process all that protein over extended periods of time and could do more harm then good.

What I usually do is rotate the 20% feed with my flock depending on they cycles with growing, laying, moulting, and stress. Also If that does not work, try to mix some dry whole milk powder in with some applesauce or non-dairy product. That to can give them a quick boost of protein without having to mess to much with grain swapping. I can do it easily b/c I have such a large flock at all stages of their life so, I always have 16%, 20%, and 22% on hand for that. Plus I have Turkeys, Quail, and Ducks which require more protein than others

Hope this information helps more than confuses you

Keep me posted and I hope you get more eggs soon!!!!
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[rngrbill]

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When/and I assume at Eastern States.

 

[blkpoodles]

last year it was in january so im guessing its in january again. yea its at the big e
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When/and I assume at Eastern States.

 

[BirdsinBethel]

Beth said:
What I usually do is rotate the 20% feed with my flock depending on they cycles with growing, laying, moulting, and stress. Also If that does not work, try to mix some dry whole milk powder in with some applesauce or non-dairy product. That to can give them a quick boost of protein without having to mess to much with grain swapping

Beth the powdered milk things sounds like much more my speed - I don't want TOO many cans filled with grain hanging around, with only 5 girls I don't use up food nearly as quickly as you must!
This morning I scattered some oyster shell in the area they forage the most and they were gobbling it up, so that should help too. Now I just need to remember to add that to my daily routine, or get a covered dish I can put out in that area!
My BR's egg today was a little 'puckered' in one area, like the shell was kind of thin there, so maybe this is a protein issue along with someone just starting to lay .... Thanks for the advice.