- Sep 8, 2009
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I'm a total newbie at keeping hens. We have 5 laying hens. I have no idea what breeds they are. We acquired them from our neighbors about 5 weeks ago. All but one lay daily. The eggs have a nice hard shell and great yokes. The hen in question (Elvira- she's brown, white and gray speckled, lays blue eggs.) did not lay the first 2 weeks. I attributed it to stress, however, when she did lay, I found only a thin membrane in the nest. A few days later she laid a nice big egg, all subsequent laying has been with out the shell, though I sometimes find a membrane in the hay.
I spoke with our neighbor about Elvira. They never had a problem with her.
I'm stumped. I feed the girls laying feed daily mixed with oyster shells and grit as well as cooking scraps. In addition they get: oats, corn, laying feed mixed with yogurt and oyster shells, the kids green smoothie left overs (if there are any!), and greens (I throw the garden plants in their pen when the plants stop producing.). All the others are laying great eggs, why is she not picking up the nutrients?
Elvira doesn't act funny and she seems to be at the top of the pecking order. We're thinking of culling her. Help!
I spoke with our neighbor about Elvira. They never had a problem with her.
I'm stumped. I feed the girls laying feed daily mixed with oyster shells and grit as well as cooking scraps. In addition they get: oats, corn, laying feed mixed with yogurt and oyster shells, the kids green smoothie left overs (if there are any!), and greens (I throw the garden plants in their pen when the plants stop producing.). All the others are laying great eggs, why is she not picking up the nutrients?
Elvira doesn't act funny and she seems to be at the top of the pecking order. We're thinking of culling her. Help!