Illinois...

[cavemanrich]

Today's harvest. 5 eggs from six hens What is interesting is the top egg. It is from my Geriatric RIR (9 year), This is her 3rd egg in one week. The first one was thin shelled, and found broken. Last year 2020, I think she only layed 3 or 4 all year.

I'm still wondering if the music poster I hung in their coop had any effect,

Spoiler: Music poster

 

[Faraday40]

I’ve got a soft shelled layer this week. Any tricks on getting more calcium into her? I want to try whatever I can before we have to make that tough decision.

The most likely hens are Cookie ( my fav broody who’s getting up there in chicken years & she’s laid some before)
and /or
one of my son’s hens
Tillie (his quirky Leghorn who is a laying machine.... but that’s why she’s been giving some thin shells lately. Only 3 years old)
His other hens Chizzy and PoofPoof are always in the vicinity when a warm shell-less egg is discovered. They’re about 4-5 years old)

Unfortunately we lost 4 eggs yesterday. One had just the membrane, one had an impact crack but was still whole, and 2 were crushed and being devoured in a frenzy

This is especially hard on DS who’s going through a rough time. His little serama injured her legs 2 weeks ago when landing on a patch of ice. She’s been inside recovering but still not walking yet. She stood a little for the first time today.

 

[SnootyHen]

Another baby is laying!!!! Could be the CCL or the Ameraucana but my money is on the CCL. She laid it in the run too, little brat!

Edited to add: Oooh, it could be my EE too I guess...

 

[Faraday40]

I added boiling water to calcium pills to mush-ify, then stirred in oatmeal. The hens loved it. I hope it helps the eggshell quality. My hens just don't touch oyster shell.

Today I think I lost 3 eggs..... Eaten by the chickens! Four hens & a rooster had wet sticky beaks and I found 3 areas where the shavings were egg-y. I only got 1 orp egg (which was still warm in the nest) and 2 tiny bantam eggs. Part of it could be my busy schedule. I clean & feed before 8am and then haven't been able to go back out until 3pm.

The bantams don't seem to have the issue in their coop. We have a couple broody hens. They steal all the eggs and sit on them. They won't let any other hens near those eggs.

 

[BReeder!]

I’ve got a soft shelled layer this week. Any tricks on getting more calcium into her? I want to try whatever I can before we have to make that tough decision.

The most likely hens are Cookie ( my fav broody who’s getting up there in chicken years & she’s laid some before)
and /or
one of my son’s hens
Tillie (his quirky Leghorn who is a laying machine.... but that’s why she’s been giving some thin shells lately. Only 3 years old)
His other hens Chizzy and PoofPoof are always in the vicinity when a warm shell-less egg is discovered. They’re about 4-5 years old)

Unfortunately we lost 4 eggs yesterday. One had just the membrane, one had an impact crack but was still whole, and 2 were crushed and being devoured in a frenzy

This is especially hard on DS who’s going through a rough time. His little serama injured her legs 2 weeks ago when landing on a patch of ice. She’s been inside recovering but still not walking yet. She stood a little for the first time today.

One rapid option is blend eggshell fine and mix it into feed.

 

[SnootyHen]

Oh this rain!!!!! I made the mistake of starting to take the tarp off my run and it got DRENCHED tonight. And then I went in to lock the girls in the coop and one of the old leaks I had sealed apparently un-sealed itself and the nesting boxes were soaked too. I super seriously hate rain....I know we need it, but

 

[Molpet]

Oh this rain!!!!! I made the mistake of starting to take the tarp off my run and it got DRENCHED tonight. And then I went in to lock the girls in the coop and one of the old leaks I had sealed apparently un-sealed itself and the nesting boxes were soaked too. I super seriously hate rain....I know we need it, but

Yes this cold rain stinks. Even some of the turkeys went in last night

 

[BReeder!]

IM going to lunch with a friend, but I dread being out today. Also, this wind blew my large free standing patio umbrella which then knocked over a small pile of wood I keep for my smooker. I picked up the umbrella and tied it to the railng on the patio. The wood will just have to wait.

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

An egg without a shell! The shell must have come off and only membrane holding it together. I think it's the shell folded up stuck to it. Never seen that before.

 

[SnootyHen]

My girls became hens today!! And Wanda Beth still won't lay even though 2 of the babies are already laying. Because I am a nerd, I made them collages like I do for my kids and dogs on their birthdays.