Diet and Egg-bound hen

[RayrayB]

Hi!
I've had two hens in the last month that have become egg bound. One was a 2 year old barred rock, who after a soak and massage was able to pass the egg on her own. The other was a 1 year old silkie who was very sick by the time I found her, and I ended up having to remove the egg on my own.
I'm beginning to wonder if they are lacking something nutritional since this has happened twice in such a short period of time. They free range for about 4 hours a day, and have a large run that they are in when I'm at work. I feed them free-choice oyster shells and sometimes mix their egg shells in with their food. Right now, they are eating an organic Dumor layer feed. I switched from crumble to pellets two bags ago, but it is the same brand of feed.
Any suggestions? Thanks so much!

 

[GC-Raptor]

I'm beginning to wonder if they are lacking something nutritional since this has happened twice in such a short period of time.

I switched from crumble to pellets two bags ago,

Could be the change. Some chickens don't like Pellets and will eat less.
With the 4 hours of foraging they'll eat even less feed.
Both of them hens may not like to consume Oyster Shells either. Calcium is needed to push the egg through the ova duct.
Maybe try crumbles again. I feed my hens crumbles. GC

 

[RayrayB]

Could be the change. Some chickens don't like Pellets and will eat less.
With the 4 hours of foraging they'll eat even less feed.
Both of them hens may not like to consume Oyster Shells either. Calcium is needed to push the egg through the ova duct.
Maybe try crumbles again. I feed my hens crumbles. GC

Thank you! I'll give it a shot.