- Aug 19, 2011
- 94
- 3
- 29
Just to beware myself for next time.
I have always free fed my hens oyster shells. A hen went broody. 3/4 eggs hatched with healthy babies. The last egg never hatched though I could hear peeping.
A day later, the hen gave up on the nest. The chick chilled and died. After a last minute candling to observe if there might have been a bacterial infection, but I just saw the chick with minor white spots indicating bacteria.
After I cracked the egg open, I saw the shell was exceedingly thick, a chick could never have broken through.
Did normal oyster shell consumption contribute to this, or was the chick just weak?
I have always free fed my hens oyster shells. A hen went broody. 3/4 eggs hatched with healthy babies. The last egg never hatched though I could hear peeping.
A day later, the hen gave up on the nest. The chick chilled and died. After a last minute candling to observe if there might have been a bacterial infection, but I just saw the chick with minor white spots indicating bacteria.
After I cracked the egg open, I saw the shell was exceedingly thick, a chick could never have broken through.
Did normal oyster shell consumption contribute to this, or was the chick just weak?
