consistently getting soft shelled eggs

[jmp-pdx]

is there a form of calcium I can giver her?? crushed up pills?

 

[aart]

is there a form of calcium I can giver her?? crushed up pills?

There are other forms of calcium, I've read about a few but really don't know any details.


Try using the advanced search option, usually less reading to wade thru than the general search,
this will get you started:
Advanced search>titles only>calcium supplement

 

[Suzie]

I would ensure she has extra Vitamin D3 calcium...I had this problem with my Turken ( Naked Neck) chickens when they were younger...despite giving them layer feed and oyster shell...after the D3 they have laid normally...I have concluded that some need extra vitamins as they are growing up...my chickens that suffered from this problem are large chickens...

I have never experienced this before with my standard sized chickens...

Hope this may be of help to you.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

A vitamin D3 supplement isn't a bad idea.

If they're getting 4% calcium in the diet and supplemental oyster shell, adding more calcium won't be the answer. As in the OP it stated, the birds had been getting layer feed and free choice oyster shell from the onset of lay.

An acidifier, perhaps in the form of ACV (apple cider vinegar) will help with calcium uptake if that is the problem. But uptake is unlikely to be the cause.

It's time to look at the causes of shell-less eggs. I'd still look at a virus like egg drop syndrome or influenza.

AI has become a problem in Oregon. Though there are usually other symptoms, sometimes there is sudden death with no symptoms. One symptom is eggs with soft or no shells. Have your birds had any contact with waterfowl?
A vet or your state NPIP people can do a blood test. Survivors are immune but are carriers.

Egg drop syndrome comes from an adenovirus. Was she vaccinated for Marek's?
Treatment is to force a molt.

 

[aart]

A vitamin D3 supplement isn't a bad idea.

If they're getting 4% calcium in the diet and supplemental oyster shell, adding more calcium won't be the answer. As in the OP it stated, the birds had been getting layer feed and free choice oyster shell from the onset of lay.

An acidifier, perhaps in the form of ACV (apple cider vinegar) will help with calcium uptake if that is the problem. But uptake is unlikely to be the cause.

It's time to look at the causes of shell-less eggs. I'd still look at a virus like egg drop syndrome or influenza.

AI has become a problem in Oregon. Though there are usually other symptoms, sometimes there is sudden death with no symptoms. One symptom is eggs with soft or no shells. Have your birds had any contact with waterfowl?
A vet or your state NPIP people can do a blood test. Survivors are immune but are carriers.

Egg drop syndrome comes from an adenovirus. Was she vaccinated for Marek's?
Treatment is to force a molt.

I thought ACV could inhibit the calcium uptake??

 

[ChickenCanoe]

In commercial production, they've found that adding an acidifier can negate the detrimental effect of providing calcium too early in pullets.

 

[ceceuu]

Thanks for the post. I have 8 hens that were a year old in March 2015. I was getting 5-6 eggs daily by the beginning of this March. Still getting good eggs but there have been three extremely soft shelled (rubber) eggs in the past week. Also some with the chalky shell. They get a good layer feed plus scratch in the afternoon and some vegetables. They all seem very happy and healthy; I don't know which one laid it. Also I have one red sex link in my flock and her first year she laid almost every day. Now she is laying only a few times a week and they are absolutely humongous and the shell is often slightly deformed and thin. The egg itself has blood spots in it. I don't think she is the one laying the rubber eggs though unless she can lay one the same day she lays one of her monstrous eggs. All my chickens seem healthy and happy. I keep their coop clean and give them oyster shell and crushed shells. My next step is to hold the scratch. Thank goodness it is Spring - will let them out to roam a bit and maybe that will help them get their vitamins. I will keep you all updated on what happens, if this problem gets worse or is solved. Thank you for all your help - the advice here was supreme.

 

[jmp-pdx]

Ceceuu: I'm still getting at least 2 a week. All mine are red sex links and I get usually 9-10 per day from 11 hens. Yesterday was the first time there were 11 in the box and one was soft shell again so I'm convinced it's from her and she just has calcium issues and isn't going to change. Or if she does it's going too take a long time or she'll always be inconsistent.

It's been nearly a month... One or two every once and a while is normal but this isn't so I called the farmer yesterday and he's going to swap her out for a new pullet next week. I paid way too much for a hen that won't lay proper eggs! Good luck to you, I wish I could be more help but I feel that I've done what I can and I can't help her

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Sounds good. A month is a long time.
I have one pullet I wasn't planning on keeping because her color is wrong but her first 10 eggs were soft or thin shelled so I didn't want to sell her either. Now her eggs are fine and nice and dark. I may sell her now but I'm going to hatch a couple and see what color they end up out of curiosity sake.

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

I have a 4 1/2 year old Jersey Giant who has issues w/ soft shelled eggs. They have shells on them but they are thin. And if I'm not careful, then I will get a shell-less egg, usually dropped off the roost at night.

I will point out that this hen has other health issues, fatty liver disease and a chronic sinus infection that never resolved, both diagnosed by a vet. But she's otherwise healthy and happy. She is one of four hens I have in my back yard and I love her which is why we just leave her be. She is on layer ration and there is a separate bowl of oyster shell and they get crushed up egg shells when I have them.

I was concerned about a soft shelled egg getting stuck inside of her.

So I ordered powdered calcium from this place:
http://www.morningbirdproducts.com/

Be sure to get calcium that has vitamin D in it as chickens need the D to absorb the calcium. I take a piece of fruit (grape, raisin, banana) dip it into the calcium and she eats it out of my hand. I do this every afternoon or later in the day as that's when the body begins to form the shell onto the egg and I was told that later in the day was best.

She now lays a hard shell on each egg. But if I skip a day or if she gets too many treats (say a piece of water melon when it's hot) then the next egg is thin so I'll update the dose to twice a day in those situations.

It's not very scientific but it's been working for me. And for her. And she knows the drill. When I come out in the afternoon, she knows it's time for calcium and she comes right up to me to take it out of my hand. It's a labor of love to do this w/ her and won't work for everyone. But I put it out there for those who have a hen they just can't part with as it does work.