HELP!! Thin shelled or shell less eggs

[achickadeeandmw]

I am getting super thin shelled or shell less eggs daily. I cannot figure out
nutritionally what I am doing wrong.I have 6 ducks and 6 chickens. They are free
range ( in a pasture) This is what I feed daily for them:
1/2 c oyster shells
3/4 c black oil sunflower seeds
6 cups sprouted organic barley or field peas ( I rotate them every other day)
Kitchen scraps
and 4 c of this mash
Big Sky Layer from Azure
We are a certified organic feed producer, certified by the Montana Department
of Agriculture. Our organic feed is made with all organic or organic-approved
ingredients.

For Laying Hens

16% protein
No soy
No canola
No corn
Complete layer feed

Guaranteed Analysis:

Crude Protein, min .............................. 16.0%

Methionine, min .................................. 0.35%

Lysine, min ......................................... 0.50%

Crude Fat, min ...................................... 3.0%

Crude Fiber, max .................................. 5.0%

Calcium, min-max .......................... 2.5-3.5%

Phosphorous, min ............................... 0.35%

Salt, min-max. ............................. 0.20-0.35%

Ingredients:Organic wheat, organic barley, organic peas, organic whole flaxseed,
fish meal, organiccamelina meal, organic alfalfa meal, organic dried kelp,
vitamin/mineral premix(dicalcium phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium
carbonate, certified organicdried kelp, salt, sodium bicarbonate, choline
chloride, cobalt sulfate, copper sulfate,potassium iodide, iron sulfate,
manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, zinc sulfate, vitaminA supplement, vitamin
D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate,riboflavin, niacin
supplement, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitaminB12
supplement, folic acid, biotin, ascorbic acid, menadione nicotinamide
bisulfite,)calcium carbonate, and salt.


I also throw them worms and bugs and about once a week they get a portion of
ground grass fed beef liver. It seems to me they are getting all the nutrition
they need. Any ideas? I am at my wits end with losing eggs because the shells
are so thin they crack or they have no shell. I thought if I posted here what I
fed someone might be able to help me. Thanks!

 

[mnferalkitty]

You didn't mention how old they are, that would help. Young chickens and old chickens sometimes lay those types of eggs, I would offer oyster shell in a seperate food dish, if they need the extra calcium they will eat it if not they will leave it alone

 

[achickadeeandmw]

Chickens are almost 1 and ducks are 18 months to 2 years old

 

[mnferalkitty]

Chickens are almost 1 and ducks are 18 months to 2 years old

I would offer more oyster shell in a seperate dish, they might not be getting enough calcium, don't mix it with the food just set a pan out with oyster shell in it, they will help themselves if they need it

 

[bldrchicken]

We had this occur after having the same hens for about a year. We bought them at around 6 months, and they layed fine until they were in their second summer 1.5 yrs old), then we started getting thin shells, and some of the hens stopped laying. After researching and trying to up their calcium intake, we finally had blood tests done on them by Colorado State University lab after talking with them (it only cost $18 for 6 birds). They suspected infectious bronchitis, based upon our disucssion, which is what it turned out to be. Apparently it can be picked up from wild birds that fly in and out and land in the run/coop, etc. It affects their oviducts, and can be passed along to new birds too. Since it is a lung thing (bronchitis), some of the hens we could hear wheez if we picked them up and listened closely. Oddly, it only affected our three buff orpingtons, but did not impact the red star, barred rock, or americana, even though they all tested positive for IB.

That was all two years ago. This year it started again with one cinnamon queen and an americana. The other 7 hens were all fine, but these two began laying super thin eggshelled eggs, and they's just break them and eat them. I tried upping their calcium again, via yoghurt, mixed with calcium pills that I ground up - to no avail ( I even fed these two separately so the others would not get the added calcium to the detriment of the two). We did not get these birds tested, but ended up just giving them away - Again, these two birds were affected, but the other 7 were/are fine.

Like yours, it was frustrating b/c we thought we were doing something wrong, but it's nothing that can be fixed. at least this can be one other explanation, although trying to get them more calcium is about the only thing I can think of.