Oyster powder out and still broken eggs

[kimluvs2lol]

Hello!

One of my chickens in a small flock has begun to lay eggs. Her first egg was in found in the nesting box. I was impressed that she knew right were to go. She laid a couple of eggs in the nesting box.

However, I discovered a broken egg today that wasn't in the nesting box but below the perches. The egg shell was very soft.

I put out a dish of Oyster powder so that she can eat as needed. I read that they tend to know when they need more calcium.

I'm confused what I should do. Should I mix the powder in with the food though my flock is of different ages? Should I leave a golf ball or fake egg in the nesting box so she knows to go back.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I know that it is the same chicken because all of the other chickens are different breeds and suppose to lay brown or tan eggs.

Thanks,
Kimberly

 

[junebuggena]

It's very common for new layers to lay eggs with weak shells or shell-less eggs even when provided calcium. It's just takes time for all the parts of the egg laying system to start working together consistently.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It takes time for things to straighten out.
Never mix extra calcium with feed or they won't have the option of eating it or not. Layer feed is already 4% calcium. Adding extra will be too much forced on them. Plus, you only have one bird with a problem.

You said oyster powder. Is it crushed oyster shell (small pellets) or a powder? It should be fairly large particles- perhaps 1/8-1/4 inch.

 

[kimluvs2lol]

The Oyster shells are actually a fine powder. I asked them what would be better but they said it didn't matter. I have a feeling they really didn't know what they were talking about.

Thanks!!!

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! They didn't have a clue. You need crushed oyster shell, not powder. Don't mix it with the feed. Either switch gradually to a layer feed as all the birds come into production, or continue with a grower or all- flock ration. Either way, oyster shell on the side. Mary

 

[barneveldrerman]

If that don't work feed them dried egg shells and it will get them the calcium they need.

Hope this helps

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It's possible that it isn't even oyster shell.
This is what crushed oyster shell should look like.


There are products called oyster shell flour that is used for making things like Bocce Ball courts and oyster shell lime that is used as a garden amendment to raise ph and add calcium to the soil.

The purpose of the large particle oyster shell is that it gets lodged in the upper digestive tract longer and makes contact with the calcium absorption sites in the small intestine at night when the egg is in the shell gland.
Perhaps they got a deal on some oyster shell flour and tried to pass it off as a bird layer supplement.
It really does make a difference and feed store personnel advice shouldn't be trusted.

Here's a good article from a Canadian feed company about egg shell quality and the importance of large particle oyster shell.

http://www.nutrecocanada.com/docs/s...-formation-and-eggshell-quality-in-layers.pdf

 

[harmesonfarm]

It's true, feed store employees can be SO wrong sometimes, I've trusted a few to advice and ended up getting it all completely wrong...to the expense of my bank account.

I only trust one of them now, if she's not there I don't even bother asking.