how can I improve calcium uptake?

[OrpingtonManor]

Quote:
She laid one of those thin-shelled ones this morning, but in the coop, like it fell out of her while she was on the roost. Then she kept sitting in the nest like she thought she was going to lay another one. I guess she never got the sensation of actually laying an egg, so she kept at it. Who knows?

I do know that the birds I'm getting in April are breeder stock, not hatchery chicks. I'm hoping that will mean healthier birds next time.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
That's exactly what I was talking about. Our birds that lay eggs like that rarely do it in the nest box. For some reason it is laid early and they are not expecting it.

I do know that the birds I'm getting in April are breeder stock, not hatchery chicks. I'm hoping that will mean healthier birds next time.

That's neither here nor there. I wouldn't expect hatchery birds to be any less healthy than any other bird, nor would I expect breeder stock to be more healthy, as the breeder stock is bred primarily for conformation. If anything, the hatchery stock has some diversity to it, which isn't a bad thing.​

 

[OrpingtonManor]

my concern is that hatchery stock might be bred for emphasis on being egg-laying machines for a year and a half, expecting us to cull and renew. who knows?

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
I'd suspect they aren't bred for much of anything other than producing more chicks to sell.

 

[leenie]

Agree
Every shell-less egg we've ever found was never laid in a nest. Floor, Roost, Pathway.
Good luck, I've got one girl who does this too so I'm listening and learning along with you.

 

[OrpingtonManor]

weirdly, I have had some of these eggs in the nest. it made quite a mess in there. but, mostly they are on the coop floor.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

I haven't read the whole thread so someone maybe said this, but I use AD&E , it helps with calcium absorption, I get it in the cattle area in the store, its a natural product made with distillers grain

 

[Chick-a-roos]

I'm hoping your post with help all of us....

My issues started on Feb 7th with my girl Emma (here's my post https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=3590625#p3590625)

She did not lay for 2 weeks. Since then she has laid 3 soft shell (nest box and under roost) and 2 normal eggs. I have really been concerned but of course felt like it could not be a calcium issue since my other girls are laying normal. I also feel like it's a issue with just Emma.

 

[LilBizzy]

I am anxiously awaiting to hear the advice on this one, because guess what? Yup, I have a softshell layer too. One of my big girls.It stoped for a while, but now it's back. I find them mostly in or right next to the nestbox, but also under the roost. And I have tried the yogurt and extra calcium, and get the bumpy shells from the other girls.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

how old are your soft layers, the older the hens get the harder it is for them to absorb the calcium, that's why the AD&E , D is what help with the calcium, chickens and people. plus when i had this problem it was only a hen or two and in different pens, it can be the lack of sun light in the winter, i know we are getting more sun now but it take a few weeks for the problem to show up