Immature and broken eggs

[onthecoast386]

I have 4 barred rock hens who are 18 months and have been laying regularly for some time. Within the last 3 months one hen is laying eggs without shells and or broken eggs. I have added some vitamins to their pellets as well as oyster shells but she still has a problem. Any suggestions?

 

[MissChick@dee]

The heat can make for strange egg laying behaviors. You said broken eggs I’m assuming that the shells are so thin they break when they come out. You don’t have a egg eater do you?? Try tums...crush it up in a treat. My girls will peck anything out of my hand even crumbled Tums. Hope this helps. I had my first soft shell this year from my #1 layer freaked me out lol.

 

[rebrascora]

They are getting towards the end of their egg laying cycle at 18 months and will be starting to moult soon. It is not unusual for them to become depleted of calcium at this stage/time of the year. A vitamin supplement and a direct calcium supplement may help but they will likely stop laying soon and start to moult and when they come back into lay after the winter solstice their system should be recharged and back to normal.

 

[onthecoast386]

They are getting towards the end of their egg laying cycle at 18 months and will be starting to moult soon. It is not unusual for them to become depleted of calcium at this stage/time of the year. A vitamin supplement and a direct calcium supplement may help but they will likely stop laying soon and start to moult and when they come back into lay after the winter solstice their system should be recharged and back to normal.

What is direct calcium?

 

[rebrascora]

It just means giving her a calcium supplement directly into her mouth.... rather than just putting down a dish of oyster shells or egg shells and letting her decide if she wants to eat some. A Tums tablet will do at a push, but a human calcium tablet with vitamin D or liquid calcium.... calcium gluconate or you can buy liquid calcium supplements specifically for chickens which usually has vitamin D3 in it.