Hens just starting to fire

[crealbilly]

I have 17 RIR hens that are 21 weeks old today. I got 5 eggs last week 4 small and one large. 2 of the small eggs had white spotted shells the other 3 were fine. I did not get any more eggs for 3 days then today I noticed a hen in one of the nesting boxes sitting on a ceramic egg that my wife bought. Later I checked and she layed a yoke (no skin or shell) and a egg with just the skin and no shell. I cleaned up the mess from the yoke.

I just just sqitched them over to 16% layer feed with free choice oyster crushed shell last week. Before that I had them on 21% meat bird with free choice oyster crushed shell.

I guess the hens are just starting to fire and I should expect a little miss firing in the beginning. Hopefully their little egg making machine will start firing on all cylinders soon

 

[youngchooklover]

I have 17 RIR hens that are 21 weeks old today. I got 5 eggs last week 4 small and one large. 2 of the small eggs had white spotted shells the other 3 were fine. I did not get any more eggs for 3 days then today I noticed a hen in one of the nesting boxes sitting on a ceramic egg that my wife bought. Later I checked and she played a yoke (no skin or shell) and a egg with just the skin and no shell. I cleaned up the mess from the yoke.

I just the over to 16% layer feed with free choice oyster crushed shell last week. Before that I had them on 21% meat bird with free choice oyster crushed shell.

I guess the hens are just starting to fire and I should expect a little miss firing in the beginning. Hopefully their little egg making machine will start firing on all cylinders soon

That normally happens but it is also is a sign that they need more calcium.
You could wash some egg shells then smash them up and give it to them.

 

[DigMyChicks]

Mine are just starting to lay...2 are laying small hard shelled eggs and 1 is laying just an egg with no shell and another an egg with a soft shell...I assume it's normal and they will straighten out. I have just switched over to layer pellets and have had oyster shell out for a couple weeks now.

 

[youngchooklover]

Mine are just starting to lay...2 are laying small hard shelled eggs and 1 is laying just an egg with no shell and another an egg with a soft shell...I assume it's normal and they will straighten out. I have just switched over to layer pellets and have had oyster shell out for a couple weeks now.

The same thing will help your hens

 

[DigMyChicks]

I tried egg shells, they show no interest in them. I have oyster shells in the coop and where they free range also. Thank you!

 

[youngchooklover]

I tried egg shells, they show no interest in them. I have oyster shells in the coop and where they free range also. Thank you!

Mmm my hens love egg shell, your welcome ^-^

 

[DigMyChicks]

Maybe plain Greek yogurt?

 

[aart]

I have 17 RIR hens that are 21 weeks old today. I got 5 eggs last week 4 small and one large. 2 of the small eggs had white spotted shells the other 3 were fine. I did not get any more eggs for 3 days then today I noticed a hen in one of the nesting boxes sitting on a ceramic egg that my wife bought. Later I checked and she layed a yoke (no skin or shell) and a egg with just the skin and no shell. I cleaned up the mess from the yoke.

I just just sqitched them over to 16% layer feed with free choice oyster crushed shell last week. Before that I had them on 21% meat bird with free choice oyster crushed shell.

I guess the hens are just starting to fire and I should expect a little miss firing in the beginning. Hopefully their little egg making machine will start firing on all cylinders soon

Yes, misfires, lol.
It can take up to a month or so for things to smooth out.

 

[DigMyChicks]

I tried plain Greek yogurt with bananas mixed in and they went nuts over it...looks like the bowl got licked clean. Supposedly bananas help absorb calcium...

 

[crealbilly]

Eggs are looking better now. I'm sitting here on the porch listening to 3 hens firing at the same time. I guess I was a little taken back that some started laying at 20 weeks. I thought RIR started around 24 weeks but I'm not complaining at all.