Egg yolk in coop

[Kelliejohnson79]

Hmmmm, I have a bit of different approach and thought.

IMHO, no, you do not need to supplement with oyster shell if you are giving a good quality layer feed as it has enough calcium in it for laying hens. I agree layer feed is only harmful if given too early to young chooks as it can damage their kidneys from too much calcium; but you are dealing with birds at point of lay. Depending upon your breed type, the commercial hybrids actually benefit from having layer feed around 14 weeks or so as their bodies mature very quickly. Adding oyster shell as a self feed supplement is a good way to ensure your birds will get enough, if any might be lacking, but it is not essential if you use layer feed. It's nice to have, and I offer my girls their share in free feed. No young chick will load up if they do not need it, so there is no worry there. Many chicken keepers use a flock formula for multi ages and set out oyster shell precisely so that the young birds don't get the extra calcium in layer while the older birds will supplement with shell. I personally have better results having the calcium in the layer feed as it is absorbed better and I get a lot less "gritty" shells with un-absorbed oyster or calcite grit spots.

ACV use does not reduce calcium in the system. I have heard that before and have found no evidence whatsoever to support that claim. Some basic biology can refute that fear. It is not like the egg experiment where the vinegar dissolves the calcium from the shell of an egg that is immersed in a highly concentrated acidic environment, leaching calcium. Think about it. The hens' gut is already acidic.The purpose of the gut is to break down food sources to extract minerals and nutrients...so allowing the proper gut ph helps with digestion and absorption of calcium. ACV in the water helps to keep the acidic environment that is already present in the hen, and yes, she could dissolve egg shells in her gut. She SHOULD be able to in order to take advantage of the calcium. You are also not giving a high concentration of ACV, just a tablespoon or two in a gallon of water to keep the ph up and provide good probiotics (the purpose of raw, unfiltered, with the mother). This helps a lot with immune support as the gut is the first line defense of the immune system.

Watermelon could be a diuretic if given in large quantity, that might mess with the ph and electrolytes, but the birds will monitor the intake, and are eating other things as well.So I would not suspicion too much watermelon. If anything, they would get the runs first to show you to back off of it.

If I understood your post correctly, you have new layers, and it is perfectly normal for new layers to have odd laying patterns until their systems settle into the rhythm. I suspicion your hen did not lay earlier, as new layers will often go into the nest box, mess around for some time, then come out without having laid. She went back in and laid the egg later, which was a soft shelled egg typical of new layers. Unless this continues daily for several weeks, I would not worry but expect an occasional "misfire" while she settled into laying. Be prepared it may get very odd before it gets better....very tiny eggs, shell less eggs, odd shaped eggs, then gradually nicer eggs as you've got new layers coming into lay during hot weather.

Poor laying habits can be the early symptom (and sometimes only symtom) of Infectious Bronchitis or Newcastle, but I would not jump to that as you've got new layers who would normally be giving odd laying patterns with their first eggs. IB usually produces a cough and "nick" while Newcastle has nasal discharge with swelling around the eyes and sinus area. If nobody looks sick (rumpled feathers and lethargy), I doubt it is illness. They may be overly hot since you state it has been hot. Heat can play a big factor in the laying cycle, which can produce odd egg results as well.

Supplement with lots of good fresh water, with ACV to keep their gut flora and calcium absorption optimum, add oyster shell free feed if you like, keep a good layer in the feeders, and let nature take its course. Providing cooling off areas, like a small child's wading pool, can help them cool off if you have really hot climate, as does providing a misting method for cooling. Again, heat can be a big factor in poor egg quality and production.

LofMc

ETA: I just caught your location...and YES we have been in a middle of a heat wave, then cooler weather, then hot weather. That can definitely mess with the layng cycle especially new layers. My experienced girls have backed off this last week after that really hot spell...you may even seen a few forced molts as the clouds come in. Weather in our area, as it is so variable, can definitely mess with the laying rhythm...the hen's laying cycle is monitored by her pituitary gland which is responsive to light, and her hormones respond to heat...rising body temperature is the first sign of the brooding process...cooling a broody hen is one way to curtail the hormones and bring her out of a brood...so the on again/off again heat we've been having will definitely mess with young layers!

Thank you for your response Lof Mc. My girls turned (think) 19 weeks Sunday. Two are laying eggs now but find a random shell less egg in run or in middle of coop. I ordered 10 chick's, lost one, neighbor gave me his 6 so never raising chickens in my like, 15 girls is interesting and fun. I feel much better reading your response on random shellless eggs. I live in mountains in Angel Fire NM and strange for September we got a heat wave. Thank you for your response and help