- Feb 24, 2012
- 58
- 1
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I have had my chickens for over a year now and they have been laying for about 10 months. Was getting 4 eggs a day from 4 hens for a while, then they molted and stopped laying, then started again but it was winter so production slowed a tiny bit, still got on average 3 eggs a day. Sometimes would get an XL egg that was sometimes misshapen, not terrible, just extra long or an odd bulge. I kind of narrowed it down to Katniss, my barred rock. A month or so ago, maybe more she started occasionally laying sandpaper eggs with brittle shells, then occasionally eggs with funny pointy ends, either odd in shape or they would be wrinkly. then I noticed a couple eggs with very thin shells, like paper. Picked one up very gently and it broke. Then after she was in the nest box a few days ago there was a blob of egg with a thin transparent, transparaent as in barely there, soft layer of "shell" couldnt pick it up without it "breaking" and oozing egg.
They have been on the same feed since they started laying, Nutrena country Feeds Layer 16%. They have a run attached to their coop and about every other day are let out to "graze" They have oyster shell grit available, though I dont keep it in front of them 100% of the time as they tend to dump it out. They have fresh clean water. They occasionally get snacks, fruits and veggies and occasionally meat and cooked egg. I also bake the shells and crumble and feed to them, esp when I noticed the thin shell.
All 4 chickens act happy and healthy. The other 3 are laying nice hard eggs, though they are smaller the past few months.
I needed more feed and was at a different store so picked up a bag of Layena 16% pellets. Not sure of the nutrient and vitamin comparison. Have not fed the new bag yet.
Any advice? This is my favorite of the chickens (dont tell the others that!!). Friends keep joking about having friend chicken, but I couldnt eat her! Is there anything I can do to get her laying/laying normally again?! ANY suggestions are welcome!
They have been on the same feed since they started laying, Nutrena country Feeds Layer 16%. They have a run attached to their coop and about every other day are let out to "graze" They have oyster shell grit available, though I dont keep it in front of them 100% of the time as they tend to dump it out. They have fresh clean water. They occasionally get snacks, fruits and veggies and occasionally meat and cooked egg. I also bake the shells and crumble and feed to them, esp when I noticed the thin shell.
All 4 chickens act happy and healthy. The other 3 are laying nice hard eggs, though they are smaller the past few months.
I needed more feed and was at a different store so picked up a bag of Layena 16% pellets. Not sure of the nutrient and vitamin comparison. Have not fed the new bag yet.
Any advice? This is my favorite of the chickens (dont tell the others that!!). Friends keep joking about having friend chicken, but I couldnt eat her! Is there anything I can do to get her laying/laying normally again?! ANY suggestions are welcome!
