I don't know what's wrong with my chicken!

[chena16c]

So I noticed earlier this week one of the wyandottes laid an egg with no shell, just the membrane. I didn't know who because they were both standing by it eating it. Researched it a bit and most peope said it happens occasionally but I've put out some extra calcium source just in case. Then yesterday I noticed 2 eggs laid in the coop, one from the americauna/easter egger and a wyandotte egg that was thin shelled and cracked already. I'm thinking I need to go out and get calcium supplements now, like oyster shells right?

Secon problem: My gold-laced wyandotte is shedding feather like crazy. I've noticed as the weeks gone on more and more feather about but when I looked at her this morning I've realized she's lost just about all her tail feathers. She doesn't act sick, is eating, scratching, etc.....I'm now think she's the one laying the "soft" eggs.

The only things that have changed this summer is that we have 6 pullets (teenagers) in the coop/run with them now. But they're still a bit afraid of the hens so they don't bother them. It's aso quite hot, being in Austin, TX (triple digits last week and this week) but we had an even hotter summer last year when they were chicks. They've been free ranging all day, all summer since I'm a school teacher, but am going back soon so they're going to only be able to free range when I get home. (I'v had hawk attacks so I let them out when I'm able to watch outside and have ears for the alarm).

Any suggestions? I lost my dark brahma a few weeks ago as well but I was out of town so I'm not sure why she died, my roommate had called me the night before saying she looked dull and wouldn't eat.

Everyone else seems fine.

 

[chickee]

Sounds like they need oyster shell. I toss a handfull of oystershell to my hens every morning. And it sounds like your hen is molting which usually starts with loosing the tail feathers. It is common for them to start molting this time of year. It is a good idea to give them extra protein to help with new feather growth. You could change their feed to Purina Flockraiser feed which is higher in protein or supplement with scrambled eggs. Good luck!

 

[Jeeper1540]

I give it to my hens (both chicken and duck type) 24/7. i built them a special little feeder just for that. i used to put grit in there too, but they free range now so i figure they get enough. i still put some grit in their yard every so often.

Oh, almost forgot!

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[chena16c]

Thanks guys! I went out and bought some oyster shells today as I don't have many of the egg shells collected to feed back to them. I have some leftover cat food (since my cat went missing a month ago after purchasing a full back of food) and the lady at the feed store told me that would be a good protein to give them for now. I'm not sure that either of my feed stores carry that kind of feed, but I will find out.

Chickee that's a beatiful bengal you have there. I had one for 10 years and I miss him. One of these days I'll get another.

 

[chickee]

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Leo thanks you~ Once you have a Bengal, no other cat will do! I would research feeding cat food to chickens. I read that some of the ingredients can be harmfull

I have a chick that has been down in dumps and I have been whipping up some eggs with a couple of scoops of plain yogurt and scrambling them until dry and all my chickens are getting some and loving it! Turns out that the sand in the pen wasn't big enough for grit, so I put out some store bought grit and the chick is almost back to normal now

Every feed store around here carries Flockraiser, but any 20% protein chicken food will do.

 

[HBuehler]

We are suffering through heat indexes of 105-110+ every day no breaks.On the days where it's close to 110 we get soft shelled eggs.My hens have all the oyster shell and everything else they need and never a soft shell when it's 100 or lower.Heat is so stressful on them I'm surprised I get any eggs some days.
I don't have a chicken that will eat cat food..they just look at it and let the cat eat it and they go catch a mouse