Other reasons for shelless/thin shelled eggs?

[KDbeads]

I'm having a bit of trouble here over the last month with soft shelled eggs and I'm a bit perplexed. There IS oyster shell available and eaten in great quantities. They have layer feed. Minimal treats since the first soft shell egg. Been treated preventatively for mites/worms since the wild birds are everywhere out here now.

The main culprit is one of my silkies, close to 2 years old, every egg from her for the past month has been soft shelled. And the two new laying pullets but I expect that from them for a little bit while they figure it out. One of my older EE's gave me one today, she wasn't happy about it either and squawked bloody murder after she laid it (she's inside for an injury, every day I've gotten a regular egg until today). And we have one more culprit but I can't tell who the egg belongs too, either Red or Bertha though it's not often, just once a week.

We are also getting thinner shelled eggs from everyone else.

What else causes this?????

 

[gritsar]

KD, have you checked here:

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publi...ndbook/16/thinshelled-eggs-and-shellless-eggs

 

[sotelomary]

gritsar....Thanks for the post. I have been pulling my hair wondering why my GLW is still laying semi-soft egg shells 2 months after she started laying. I know this is common for new layers but 2 months? I know all about the calcium deficiency and she has oyster shell available 24/7. This article has given me an insite into possibly an immature or defect in her egg gland.

Thanks
Mary

 

[KDbeads]

Thank you grit!! I've been looking for that link!

Hmmm desalination...... the water out here has tasted funny recently and there hasn't been quite enough rain to fill the rain barrels I pull their water from..... wonder if that has something to do with it.... hmmmmm

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

I also wondered about your water - it can change how vitamins are absorbed, D and calcium.

 

[KDbeads]

We know there's been an awful lot of nitrates in the water recently, it's also been tasting really chalky. We have a filter in the house because I have issues with nitrates.

Supposed to rain tonight and tomorrow, I'll have all barrels, buckets, etc out to catch what I can for their new watering system going in tonight. I usually get enough to supply water for 2 weeks with a good rain. We'll see how it works!