Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[HiEverybirdy]

Its interesting to read both articles bc they give very different reasons why soft shells occurs.

It's nice to have a range of causes to troubleshoot.

These links also offer alternate causes for calcium deposits on eggs, which I've been wondering about, discussed briefly last month on this thread after a post by @Perris that cited excess vitamin D.

However, around here, only Miss Hazel (Cream Legbar) lays eggs with calcium deposits, and has for 4 years, so I can assume the issue isn't diet-wide.

Deposits are worse when Hazel's extra excited about oyster shells the day before, like when I add new shells to their cups.

I could try to limit her intake but am loathe to keep her from something she's so passionate about. It's possible that, because she pops out such round eggs for her small frame, she needs the oyster shells for help with laying contractions.

Or she wants more calcium for her bodacious spurs; check those out!

 

[fuzzi]

Texted to me by my son.

 

[Perris]

Ack, "weeds." Seems like a missed opportunity to at least identify species for later analysis.

Yes I thought so too, but as I've spent years trying to work out what exactly my chickens eat in the garden, I know how hard it is even with just the plants, never mind the arthropods.

 

[Perris]

When the EE was getting started, literally her first day, she laid a partially shelled egg and about 6 hours later, one without a membrane, just a mess of told yolk and white.

She’s been like clockwork ever since, laying once daily (which concerns me.)

Llandeilo (the hen in question) is sort of at the other end of the cycle; she has been an excellent layer to date, without issues until recently. She'll be 2 in September, and laid throughout her first winter, so I think her system must be exhausted, and ready for a good break when she goes into moult (hopefully soon).

 

[Perris]

Hope your two hens get over this laying issue. It often causes an internal infection ( EYP) if it doesnt stop. If they start to moult, there is a good chance they lay normal eggs again in the next period.

Yes, that's what I'm hoping. Most of the boys are already in moult, and a few of the girls seem to be on the verge of it.

 

[Perris]

However, around here, only Miss Hazel (Cream Legbar) lays eggs with calcium deposits, and has for 4 years, so I can assume the issue isn't diet-wide.

An excellent example of how chickens' metabolisms vary, and some just need or want more of some nutrient(s) than others do. She is very pretty btw.

I could try to limit her intake but am loathe to keep her from something she's so passionate about. It's possible that, because she pops out such round eggs for her small frame, she needs the oyster shells for help with laying contractions.

Or she wants more calcium for her bodacious spurs; check those out!

Did you notice how large the standard errors were in the table showing crop contents?! The text discusses the very different consumption patterns of different individuals even within a single experimental flock (and there were multiple flocks).

 

[BDutch]

I have an “old” EE (four) and she lays at least every other day. She has my other old Australorp hen beat. I shudder to think what she was like in her hey day lol

4 is not old at all.What I have seen with my hens is that they don’t start to lay much less from day to day. The main difference is the longer moult and winter breaks.

Yes, that's what I'm hoping. Most of the boys are already in moult, and a few of the girls seem to be on the verge of it.

My 10 yo Black is moulting now too. She stopped laying this season and lost all her tail feathers and looks very silly without them. I don’t expect any eggs from her anymore this year. Maybe she will start to lay again in spring. Not sure at all with her age.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Ok, so now I have a new (perfectly natural) thing to brood about - molting.

I thought they usually molted in the fall. When people say, “They look like they’re about to molt,” what signs do you see, before it’s just feathers everywhere?

Since ours were already 7 1/2 weeks old when we got them, I’ve only observed that last juvenile molt, which wasn’t very dramatic.

 

[Perris]

Ok, so now I have a new (perfectly natural) thing to brood about - molting.

I thought they usually molted in the fall. When people say, “They look like they’re about to molt,” what signs do you see, before it’s just feathers everywhere?

Since ours were already 7 1/2 weeks old when we got them, I’ve only observed that last juvenile molt, which wasn’t very dramatic.

yours probably won't moult now till next year - they've only just grown their adult feathers. So you can park that worry for now

 

[fuzzi]

I saw three in the box with Rahab, but she won't let me check for a 4th, she pecked me hard!

There's two in the incubator with another pipping.

It never gets old, does it?