Deficiency in calcium? Help please :-)

[Cynthia 085]

I have a Cochin who can't see very well (probably a birth defect).

She knows where the food and water is and gets around just fine. She is now laying and I find her eggs very thin. This worries me.

I give her veggies daily and offer calcium, but by the look of her eggs shell she might not be taking in enough calcium.

I give her layer food, but I offer all my chickens extra calcium if they need it.

What can I do to help her?
I don't know if she knows where the extra calcium is.

I don't want her to be eggbound or calcium deficient.

Thanks.

 

[Judy]

The veggies could be cutting down on the amount of calcium she is getting; I would keep the quantity very small, or cut them out. You can add a Tums tablet to the water, which I wouldn't do more than twice or three times a week.

There are actually several possible causes of thin shelled eggs, and it may be you won't be able to correct this in her. See here:

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publi...ndbook/16/thinshelled-eggs-and-shellless-eggs

 

[TGRREZ]

I had one pass thin shelled eggs and one time, without shell at all. Soft egg. I got some liquid calcium from tractor supply and gave her 1.5cc, she is a bantam. I think with reg size hens they can have 3cc once daily till they perk up. I also have oyster shell in a separate dish. She calcium really helped.

 

[Cynthia 085]

Thanks guys.
You advice helps and makes me feel better.

No soft shell eggs yet. Just that compared to the other eggs I get her egg shells are not as thick.

 

[Necklace]

my hens started laying thin shelled eggs for awhile.. I started grinding up the egg shells I use for cooking and adding it to there food.. I worked for me and saved me some money instead of buying it at the store.... it might be worth a shot.. hope all goes well..

 

[Cynthia 085]

Yes!
Great idea

 

[Bratty477]

I noticed an egg here and there with really "soft" shells when one of my hens started to lay. I started grinding eggshells, added them into plain yogurt and give them a few spoonfuls every day. I haven't had a problem since and they absolutely seem to love the yogurt. I bought oyster shells but the chunks seemed so big I wasn't sure if they were even eating it but by using eggshells and yogurt, I knew they were having every bit!