Paper eaters

[Loveariver]

My Rhode Island Red is 2 years old and is more interested in eating paper than anything else. I use newspaper to pick up their mess and she will run behind me fighting to get at the paper pecking me until she can get a piece to eat.
Even if I put her favourite food out, the minute she hears the russle of the paper she will leave her food and come running to eat the paper.
A vet told me she probably needs multi vitamins...tried that but she refuses to take any. Tried in water, food and even soaked a small piece of paper in it to see if she would go for it. In this case she actually spat out the paper.
Help!

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

What are you feeding her?

 

[Loveariver]

What are you feeding her?

Her regular laying feed. Treats include at varying times rice, oats, granola, crack corn.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Do you provide oyster shell in a separate container as well? Just trying to figure out what she could be lacking in her diet.....

 

[Loveariver]

Do you provide oyster shell in a separate container as well? Just trying to figure out what she could be lacking in her diet.....

Don't have that where I live. In fact to be honest, never heard of it. What are the nutrients that she would get from that. Is it calcium?

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Yes. Chickens need calcium for their egg shells. Where are you from? You can purchase oyster shell at the feed store where you purchase your chicken feed. You do not mix it with their crumble, but provide it in a separate container for your chickens to eat as needed.
I would also omit cracked corn to their diet as it has zero nutritional value.

 

[Loveariver]

Yes. Chickens need calcium for their egg shells. Where are you from? You can purchase oyster shell at the feed store where you purchase your chicken feed. You do not mix it with their crumble, but provide it in a separate container for your chickens to eat as needed.
I would also omit cracked corn to their diet as it has zero nutritional value.

Thank you.
I live in Trinidad in the Caribbean. I will inquire if the feed stores sell oyster shells. I think you may have hit the nail on the head, because I noticed recently that the egg shell is soft...one even broke right in her laying box. I didn't know which of the 2 hens I have was laying the "faulty egg" but I think that info narrows it down. Also the eggs on a couple occasions were white(their eggs are always brown)

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Thank you.
I live in Trinidad in the Caribbean. I will inquire if the feed stores sell oyster shells. I think you may have hit the nail on the head, because I noticed recently that the egg shell is soft...one even broke right in her laying box. I didn't know which of the 2 hens I have was laying the "faulty egg" but I think that info narrows it down. Also the eggs on a couple occasions were white(their eggs are always brown)

Glad I could help!

 

[aart]

Her regular laying feed. Treats include at varying times rice, oats, granola, crack corn.

I'd cut out everything but the layer feed...
....the other stuff is diluting the nutrients in the layer feed.
The layer feed should have everything she needs to produce good eggs,
the offering OS on the side is not a bad idea.
Good shells are about more than just the calcium,
they need other nutrients to use that calcium.

Does your feed have a label/tag listing the protein and calcium percentages?
Knowing what those are, and an ingredient list, might help here.
Pics are easiest way to show them.

ETA: Do your birds free range?
Mine seem to enjoy pecking, and I assume eating some of, an old half rotten log.

 

[Loveariver]

Glad I could help!

Just called the feed shop and they do indeed sell oyster shells..... Hooray!
Will get some right away
Thanks again. Hugs back at you.