Eggs are mostly yolk

[munchkinlover]

Would anyone have a clue why all my girls are laying good strong shelled eggs but one? Someone is laying eggs with no shell at all. She lays it on the coop floor and not in a nest. They are getting larger with a beautiful yolk....but no shell. Any ideas of what I need to do to correct this one girl?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Would anyone have a clue why all my girls are laying good strong shelled eggs but one? Someone is laying eggs with no shell at all. She lays it on the coop floor and not in a nest. They are getting larger with a beautiful yolk....but no shell. Any ideas of what I need to do to correct this one girl?

Could be some combo of a defect in her reproductive system somewhere, or she's not eating whatever calcium source you're offering. If you can figure out which chicken it is, you can try boosting their calcium, either with supplements or by mixing oyster shell/egg shell into some wet feed, and seeing if that helps.

 

[munchkinlover]

Could be some combo of a defect in her reproductive system somewhere, or she's not eating whatever calcium source you're offering. If you can figure out which chicken it is, you can try boosting their calcium, either with supplements or by mixing oyster shell/egg shell into some wet feed, and seeing if that helps.

Thank you for your input. It's one of 3 younger girls and 2 of the 3 aren't laying yet. I'll try to identify her and do your suggestion of shells mixed in something good. I supply a bowl of oyster shell next to layer feed, so I guess she is not eating that. Thanks again.

 

[so lucky]

Thank you for your input. It's one of 3 younger girls and 2 of the 3 aren't laying yet. I'll try to identify her and do your suggestion of shells mixed in something good. I supply a bowl of oyster shell next to layer feed, so I guess she is not eating that. Thanks again.

My girls like to eat egg shells better than oyster shells, so I wonder if your girl would eat egg shells? You can crush them up to small pieces if you fear the girls might get the idea that eating eggs is fun.

 

[Double Yolked]

Thank you for your input. It's one of 3 younger girls and 2 of the 3 aren't laying yet. I'll try to identify her and do your suggestion of shells mixed in something good. I supply a bowl of oyster shell next to layer feed, so I guess she is not eating that. Thanks again.

I have learned one trick that might help. In order to get my hens to come to me instead of dashing about or shying away, I started hand feeding them the old fashioned way at least once a day. I toss them a handful or two of scratch grains. (Please don't jump me with squawks about nutrition, I give them plenty of the good layer pellets, this is a training treat) They adore this once in the evening treat so if I think they need a little extra calcium from their eggshells I mix in my oyster shells with the scratch grains. Since I started this my hens have started nibbling the oyster shells along with the grains and my eggs have much better shells. And the hens all gather 'round each evening for treat and pets.

 

[munchkinlover]

I have learned one trick that might help. In order to get my hens to come to me instead of dashing about or shying away, I started hand feeding them the old fashioned way at least once a day. I toss them a handful or two of scratch grains. (Please don't jump me with squawks about nutrition, I give them plenty of the good layer pellets, this is a training treat) They adore this once in the evening treat so if I think they need a little extra calcium from their eggshells I mix in my oyster shells with the scratch grains. Since I started this my hens have started nibbling the oyster shells along with the grains and my eggs have much better shells. And the hens all gather 'round each evening for treat and pets.

Thank you Double Yolked, I'll try that too. I give my babies scratch right before they go into the coop for the night. I read that scratch helps them stay warm at night by digesting the corn....etc. Sometimes there is too much info on the internet. How do you know who is right more than others? But thank you again.

 

[munchkinlover]

My girls like to eat egg shells better than oyster shells, so I wonder if your girl would eat egg shells? You can crush them up to small pieces if you fear the girls might get the idea that eating eggs is fun.

Thank you Lucky. I will do that. Do you remove the liner or boil them first?

 

[Double Yolked]

Thank you Double Yolked, I'll try that too. I give my babies scratch right before they go into the coop for the night. I read that scratch helps them stay warm at night by digesting the corn....etc. ....

Good luck! I read that about the scratch grains helping at night. You know it does seem to be true, at least, I noticed since I started doing this in the evenings they're not as frantic in the mornings to get out and get to food (I don't keep food in the coop. Mice problems...) and they seem to actually be laying a bit more so I will probably keep giving them the evening scratch grain treat.

 

[ErnieBerley]

Seems you do! Mine also. I had to cut back on the treats due to overweight health issues.

LOL . great pic - your chicken looks like one of Cher's headdresses back in the 80s