Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ChicoryBlue]

It does look like a soft shell. I can't remember if you have had soft sells before. You could crush up calcium pills and put them in their mash.

I have had a few soft shells since January, interestingly, two laid in the roost area and fallen through the bars. One or two in the nest box.

I know sometimes people crush calcium pills as you mention. Is it possible for a chicken that is eating feed normally to not eat enough oyster shell? Or that it is not getting absorbed well enough, and the calcium pills would perhaps work better for them?

I should research this. Like - what is the dosing? For how long? Too much calcium could be a problem I would think. It would be for everyone in general, or should be only for a problematic hen? I don't know who this egg belonged to. If the occasional soft shell is one hen all the time, or all the hens occasionally.

 

[micstrachan]

) is

That is awful. I would be so upset!

It was a long time ago, but yes! I was pretty worried! My first thought was that a predator got her.

 

[micstrachan]

I thought they couldn't have lemon of cinnamon. I read about the lemon being bad for them after I squirted some in their warm food.

I don’t know. I have not heard that. I have administered lemon juice with the spices for a doughy crop before, and it seemed to help.

 

[BY Bob]

I don’t know. It was when she was a pullet; now she has five! My thought was that she got caught in the wire. I had chicken wire around the run at the time. I didn’t know about hardware cloth back then.

That very easily could have caused it. She i was young the chickens always poked their heads through the chicken wire. If they ever panic trying to get back their head back through that could be the result.

 

[BY Bob]

I have had a few soft shells since January, interestingly, two laid in the roost area and fallen through the bars. One or two in the nest box.

I know sometimes people crush calcium pills as you mention. Is it possible for a chicken that is eating feed normally to not eat enough oyster shell? Or that it is not getting absorbed well enough, and the calcium pills would perhaps work better for them?

I should research this. Like - what is the dosing? For how long? Too much calcium could be a problem I would think. It would be for everyone in general, or should be only for a problematic hen? I don't know who this egg belonged to. If the occasional soft shell is one hen all the time, or all the hens occasionally.

Can anyone assist with dosing like this? I have not had to do so yet.

 

[featherhead007]

I have two ceramic eggs already in there. I think I have a third I'm not using. It had actually crossed my mind maybe the ceramic eggs were teaching them they could be rough without breaking them. Chicken brains don't work that way though do they? Is how to handle eggs instinctive or learned? I have seen Popcorn test-pecking a ceramic egg. Adding a third would increase the chances she'll get a fake one.

Would also increase the chances, you get a ceramic egg for breakfast! (Might break your teeth) be careful. I’m just kidding.

 

[featherhead007]

Can anyone assist with dosing like this? I have not had to do so yet.

I just save the egg shells from the ladies, crunch them up, and feed them a bowl at their choosing. (They eat them too)

 

[RoyalChick]

Mine are laying more too. One girl in particular has started laying more often. Oh, and I find they eat pellets less quickly. Plus, less waste because they can pick up what falls to the ground. Crumbles tend to work into the ground. Hope that makes sense.

I think I will go back to pellets.

 

[RoyalChick]

I consider this stuff essential for me or anyone to learn about, so ick away! Well, I suppose if very gross use a spoiler.....If it doesn't break the feather, crumbling could work. I let it go too long, they had some cemented poo that had to be soaked and gently worked down, two had them close to the skin and there was no way I could do that without soaking or even safely cut them off.

I will let you know how I get on.

 

[RoyalChick]

More here too. More water also. I am on the Nutrena pellets for their outside bin and Purina crumbles for their mash dishes (the pellet stuff doesn't clump together well). I don't have a treadle feeder set up yet, I wondered if mice are getting some.

Definitely no on the mice in my case. I have a camera on both feed stations and the bag of feed is in a steel trash can with a tight fitting lid. No mouse poo either. I think they really are guzzling.
I noticed this evening that their crops are HUGE like they have been stuffing their little faces to bursting point!
Didn't stop them wanting a bit of a treat as they went up to roost!