Michigan

[Huston's Happy Hens]

Quote:
I'm dealing with soft shelled eggs as well. I was talking to an enviromental engineer about my well water because I have arsenic and a few other nasties in it. He was telling me that many chicken farmer in my area have issues with soft shell eggs because of the heavy metals in the water. the heavy metals interfer with calcium absorbation. After the farmers changed thier feed to a high bio available mineral feed did the problem go away. I gave my chickens filtered water and extra veggies with oystershells and I get a few eggs here and there and then she stops again. Better than none. I picked up some organic feed to see if that does the trick.

Patman75 - are all of your eggs softshelled? typically we get between 8-18 eggs per day and typically only one....today it was two - we've been here for 3 years and had the water tested originally and all was fine; perhaps I should have it tested again - the humans in the house drink filtered water....

 

[patman75]

Huston's Happy Hens :

Quote:
I'm dealing with soft shelled eggs as well. I was talking to an enviromental engineer about my well water because I have arsenic and a few other nasties in it. He was telling me that many chicken farmer in my area have issues with soft shell eggs because of the heavy metals in the water. the heavy metals interfer with calcium absorbation. After the farmers changed thier feed to a high bio available mineral feed did the problem go away. I gave my chickens filtered water and extra veggies with oystershells and I get a few eggs here and there and then she stops again. Better than none. I picked up some organic feed to see if that does the trick.

Patman75 - are all of your eggs softshelled? typically we get between 8-18 eggs per day and typically only one....today it was two - we've been here for 3 years and had the water tested originally and all was fine; perhaps I should have it tested again - the humans in the house drink filtered water....​

I currenly only have 5 layers, 6-7 more growing . My BO has been laying thin shells, soft shells or no eggs all for months now. My WLH had issues last fall but has been fine since. Overall all my layers eggs are not that thick compared to other eggs. You can use this website to check water quality in your area. http://www.ewg.org/tap-water/home

 

[Mom 2em All]

I have a rescue duck!
I answered an ad on Craigslist asking for a duck rescue for an injured duck someone found on the side of the highway (75). I answered that I wasnt a rescue but I do wildlife rehab and am a licensed tech with pet ducklings and chickens of my own.
Went and picked up the duck. It is a Pekin? I think. It is a male as noted by the curly tail feather but it is ALMOST the same size as my ducklings- just a little bigger and it is completely feathered out. It also has, compared to my two ducklings, very skinny legs.
It has a bruised side, and the webbing is torn away on its left foot- giving it a chicken foot.
It also has a slight head tremor.

Very lucky duck- it would certainly have been raccoon/coyote/anything food before long- or road kill.

The lady does chihuahua rescue and had him set up in a dog carrier with wild bird seed and corn flakes and water.

Right now he is being very quiet, and I am certain he is scared out of his mind.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Hello all,
I had a wonderful reunion with my friend today. She and her husband were here for almost 5 hours and we do plan on getting together again. It was just so great to see her again.

Yesterday we celebrated my daughter in laws birthday and had a lot of people here so now I am very very tired.

Oh, for the bad news... Elliott asked me if he could take a long soak in my crock pot today and I may have to take him up on that since he drew blood on me this morning.

 

[Huston's Happy Hens]

Quote:
Patman75 - are all of your eggs softshelled? typically we get between 8-18 eggs per day and typically only one....today it was two - we've been here for 3 years and had the water tested originally and all was fine; perhaps I should have it tested again - the humans in the house drink filtered water....

I currenly only have 5 layers, 6-7 more growing . My BO has been laying thin shells, soft shells or no eggs all for months now. My WLH had issues last fall but has been fine since. Overall all my layers eggs are not that thick compared to other eggs. You can use this website to check water quality in your area. http://www.ewg.org/tap-water/home

Pat, I have a well....so I should be good. I'll wait to see if anyone else offers suggestions....thanks!

 

[patman75]

Huston's Happy Hens :

Quote:
I currenly only have 5 layers, 6-7 more growing . My BO has been laying thin shells, soft shells or no eggs all for months now. My WLH had issues last fall but has been fine since. Overall all my layers eggs are not that thick compared to other eggs. You can use this website to check water quality in your area. http://www.ewg.org/tap-water/home

Pat, I have a well....so I should be good. I'll wait to see if anyone else offers suggestions....thanks!​

I have a well too. I had my home water tested and compared my results to the surrounding comunities that supply water through comunnity wells. There was high corelation between what was in my water to theirs. Good luck with your chickens

 

[Huston's Happy Hens]

Quote:
Pat, I have a well....so I should be good. I'll wait to see if anyone else offers suggestions....thanks!

I have a well too. I had my home water tested and compared my results to the surrounding comunities that supply water through comunnity wells. There was high corelation between what was in my water to theirs. Good luck with your chickens

Thanks Pat - I'll look into this and follow thru w/you - (and others) - N

 

[Opa]

For those of you with soft shell issues inspite of the birds having access to oyster shell you might want to try pro-biotics. It will improve the overall health of your flock, improve the digestion, and help them absorb the vital nutrients from their diet.

 

[Huston's Happy Hens]

Quote:
Thanks Sam - I use the electrolytes w/vitamins and also kiddie vitamins every now and then - TSC have probiotics? specific brand in mind? I could feed them yogurt too, but I suspect the probiotics would be less costly...

 

[Opa]

They don't carry anything for chickens but they do for goats. There is a scoop inside the plastic jar. I use 2 scoops per 5 gallons of water. I think is costs about $6. Definitely cheaper than yogurt and by placing it in the water you insure that every bird gets it and not just the more dominent ones.