egg laying difficulty

[dabuba]

I have a 7 month-old Australope (black hen) who has been laying eggs for the last few weeks. This past week she has had three episodes of difficult and prolonged laying , and the egg shell comes out with brown freckles on it (blood?). Some freckles are "stuck on".

We have had to change her diet to "chick feed (unmedicated")2 weeks ago because we have added younger chicks to the flock.. The other 2 older hens of the Australope generation are doing fine. I am putting laying feed on the side, but not much. Is the feed to blame? The chickens range our side yard all day and there's lots of room to eat bugs, weeds, etc. and they get scraps. How can I help my dear black hen have less trouble laying.?

She seems otherwise well the rest of the day, eats and drinks ok, etc.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Judy]

It's fine to feed the flock starter feed because of the chicks, but they need oyster shell offered separately for the calcium. I would not put any layer feed where the chicks can get it. It's harder for a hen to lay a soft shelled than a normal egg as there isn't that resistance to push against. You can give her a quick calcium boost by putting a Tums in her waterer or giving her part of a human calcium tablet. Just be sure the chicks can't get at anything but the oyster shell. They do not seem to bother oyster shell, as long as it's separate from the feed.

 

[dabuba]

Many thanks!!! This really makes sense. Will do exactly that! Will report updates.