NEW LAYERS .....SHELLS WENT FROM HARD DARK COLORED TO SOFT LIGHT SHADE

[djcram]

My new hens are now about 5 months old and just started laying. The first layer gave us dark brown/red beautiful large eggs, her eggs have changed this week to light brown thin shell and today laid soft shell/no shell egg. One of my others just started laying and another is getting ready to lay soon (about the same age as the second). I would rather figure this out before I have an issue with all 3 layers. I am feeding 16% layer feed (Producers pride). I had some feather fixer left from my other hens which I had mixed in at first, but I have run out of that. They get oyster shells mixed with their feed every day....they are free feeding during the day.

Any suggestions on what could be happening? Is it she is just a young hen and adjusting or should I change something.

 

[6BeachChicks]

Can you show us pictures? New layers lay some pretty funky eggs…

 

[djcram]

The darker brown/red is the first ones she gave us, then they got light colored and thin shelled the past 2 days, today it was no shell. The green eggs are one of my other hens

 

[djcram]

The darker brown/red is the first ones she gave us, then they got light colored and thin shelled the past 2 days, today it was no shell. The green eggs are one of my other hens

PS....the white were store bought before my hens were laying.

 

[6BeachChicks]

I wouldn’t worry. Just keep up with layer feed and oyster shells. Keep us posted!

 

[NatJ]

They get oyster shells mixed with their feed every day....they are free feeding during the day.

I would provide a separate container of oyster shell, so each hen can choose how much to eat.

Shells getting thinner over time can be a sign that she is not getting enough calcium, or it could be a temporary glitch as her body figures out how to lay eggs.

 

[djcram]

Thank you all..... I had thought it was better to premix and did it with a bag of feed....now I am thinking I should do the separate thing so I know they are eating the feed. They get treats (scratch and saltines) but on occasional basis. I use crackers as a training method.... they love them and come running for them. Mine are no longer free range, but if they would get out I want to have a mechanism to get them to come to me. My other hens (neighbors dog killed) would come to my back door and knock and get crackers and they would hear the crinkle of the wrapper and come from wherever they were on the property....

 

[NatJ]

I had thought it was better to premix and did it with a bag of feed

Layer feed is supposed to already have the right amount of calcium in it. (Check the bag: it's usually around 3% calcium or a bit more.)

Too little calcium is bad for chickens, but too much calcium is also bad for them. So mixing extra into the layer feed means some hens get too much, or else they pick through the food to avoid the oyster shell.

Some individual hens need more calcium than others, so a separate dish of oyster shell lets them choose how much to have-- most hens are pretty good at getting the right amount for their own needs.

 

[Momcat]

My new hens are now about 5 months old and just started laying. The first layer gave us dark brown/red beautiful large eggs, her eggs have changed this week to light brown thin shell and today laid soft shell/no shell egg. One of my others just started laying and another is getting ready to lay soon (about the same age as the second). I would rather figure this out before I have an issue with all 3 layers. I am feeding 16% layer feed (Producers pride). I had some feather fixer left from my other hens which I had mixed in at first, but I have run out of that. They get oyster shells mixed with their feed every day....they are free feeding during the day.

Any suggestions on what could be happening? Is it she is just a young hen and adjusting or should I change something.

I've been raising chix for 25 years. I too have noticed this in young layers. I give high protein crumble and some kind of extra calcium. Dried meal worms work great. As well as ground flax seed. Sometimes they lay funky eggs only once.

 

[Momcat]

I've been raising chix for 25 years. I too have noticed this in young layers. I give high protein crumble and some kind of extra calcium. Dried meal worms work great. As well as ground flax seed. Sometimes they lay funky eggs only once.

Also, yes oyster shells. Also just learned they love love shrimp shells if you eat shrimp. Dry the shells some first. Great for calcium.