One hen isn't getting enough calcium, what can I do?

[Chick_a_dee]

I found an egg in the window sill this morning, clearly a first egg, it was small, WHITE and broke when I picked it up, the shell was microscopically thin. Is this just because she's laid her first egg, or is she not getting enough calcium in her diet to make the egg shell stronger?

Unfortunately, I don't know which chicken it was that laid the egg, it was there before I got in there, and I only noticed it because one of the chickens was interested in it.

All my layers are brown egg layers, could the colouring just be because her shell was very thin, or maybe she's a pink egg layer (It seems I have a pinkish egg layer, very light tinted brown egg).

 

[purr]

put oyster shells out for them, comes in a bag at the feed store

 

[Chick_a_dee]

They have oyster shells, free choice out of a long feeder, they all seem to eat them.

I mixed some in with their regular layer today, perhaps shes just not getting near it enough.

 

[1acrefarm]

Since this was a first egg and you already have oyster shell out I would not do anything until I saw what subsequent eggs look like.

 

[ibpboo]

Possibly because it was a first egg. Also, they don't always lay a perfect egg. I have brown egg layers and some of the eggs are more of a pinkish color.

 

[Chick_a_dee]

Okay, I'll keep an eye out! .. I'm certain it was a first egg, everyone is laying in the nestboxes and this was on the window sill, and it's much smaller than the others. I know they vary, but it seems I DO have a pink layer, every single one of her eggs has been pinkish coloured

I've added oyster shell to the feed anyway, so at least if she isn't eating the oyster shell out of the other feeder, she'll hopefully get some from the big feeder.

 

[Marlinchaser]

I wouldnt worry about it unless she makes a habit of soft eggs, sometimes takes a couple of tries for them to get this egg thing down.

 

[LynneP]

Many of 'my' first egss were sandpapery, a few ruptured in the coop. Takes a little time for their bodies to adjust...

 

[gckiddhouse]

Any way they could get access to some grass? I know you are in Canada, probably colder than a well digger's *** in the Klondike up there. A roll out of sod? Spinach? Alfalfa? Greens are a really healthy source of calcium. I am in Phoenix, so I probably sound (to you) like an idiot talking about green plants in December.

I know everyone talks about oyster shells, but my girls don't get that and they have very hard shells, from the first egg. I think the grass has a lot to do with it. That and the hard water.
Sorry if that is useless information for you.

 

[cmom]

Sometimes when pullets start to lay the eggs may tend to have soft or thin shells. As long as they are getting their layer feed and oyster shells free choice, the egg shells should get harder or thicker. Also you can suppliment their diet with the vegie scraps from the kitchen. I have a container that I keep mine in. I also have a bale of alfalfa for them to pick and scratch at.