MJ's little flock

[MaryJanet]

Sorry to hear you have such a busy week before Christmas. I am happy you are taking some goid time off inJanuary.
Schnitzel was our second chicken to start laying and in about 12 eggs we only have had 2 with hard shells. I wasn't worried at first as she was just starting out but this number has me worried. I am using the same foid (barastoc champion layer). I have bought a calcium supplement for the water tonight but if that doesnt work i may need to try and find a vet.

Hmm that seems like a lot to me, but I'm too much of a beginner to say for sure.

Does she seem cheerful or preoccupied?

 

[Louwin]

Hmm that seems like a lot to me, but I'm too much of a beginner to say for sure.

Does she seem cheerful or preoccupied?

Very cheerful!! Her normal bouncy, curious self

 

[MaryJanet]

Very cheerful!! Her normal bouncy, curious self

Well that's better than preoccupied anyway.

 

[rjohns39]

Good evening folks

@Louwin I would suggest looking for a vet. The problem may be poor calcium absorption. There's a vitamin to help with that but I can't remember what it is.

 

[Grammy60]

Good evening everyone hope your day was great!!

 

[BY Bob]

We are all good here. I dont work on a friday and love spending the day in the yard with them!! 2 are laying now although one is giving a lot with soft shells. They are on a commercial layer pellet and shell grit. Any advice would be welcome. Do i need oyster shell grit rather than general shell grit?

Oyster shell and Granite serve different purposes. You should have both. Oyster shell enables them to add more calcium to their diet for when they are laying eggs. Granite enables them to digest their food. If they can't find enough rocks in your yard they will need granite as a supplement.

 

[rjohns39]

Oyster shell and Granite serve different purposes. You should have both. Oyster shell enables them to add more calcium to their diet for when they are laying eggs. Granite enables them to digest their food. If they can't find enough rocks in your yard they will need granite as a supplement.

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure in AUS the term shell grit refers to oystershell aka Calcium. Can't remember how they refer to grit aka granite.

 

[BY Bob]

We are all good here. I dont work on a friday and love spending the day in the yard with them!! 2 are laying now although one is giving a lot with soft shells. They are on a commercial layer pellet and shell grit. Any advice would be welcome. Do i need oyster shell grit rather than general shell grit?

I missed the part on the soft shell eggs. MJ is right to ask how frequently they are occurring. They are normal with new layers. One here are there is OK. If they are happening every day you new to start considering how else to get them some calcium.

 

[BY Bob]

Sorry to hear you have such a busy week before Christmas. I am happy you are taking some goid time off inJanuary.
Schnitzel was our second chicken to start laying and in about 12 eggs we only have had 2 with hard shells. I wasn't worried at first as she was just starting out but this number has me worried. I am using the same foid (barastoc champion layer). I have bought a calcium supplement for the water tonight but if that doesnt work i may need to try and find a vet.

Adding calcium to the water should help. (I need to start reading ahead). That is definitely too many soft shelled eggs.

 

[BY Bob]

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure in AUS the term shell grit refers to oystershell aka Calcium. Can't remember how they refer to grit aka granite.

That's why I said oyster shell and granite. I'm trying to be clear across the language differences. I wasn't entirely certain.