Soft eggs

[Leesadoherty]

Hi everyone I am very new at chicken raising my husband and I acquired 2 isa Brown chickens 2 weeks ago they are 23weeks old and were laying beautiful eggs from the first day we got them. They are free range and we feed them layer pellets and the odd bit of food scraps not much tho coz my dog generally gets to them first. The last 2 mornings we have been getting really soft shell eggs from just one chicken at first we thought it was both as there were 2 soft eggs in the hutch but the second chicken layed a good egg later on in the morning. Then this morning again just one soft shelled egg. Does anybody know what is going on or what I can do to help my chickens to lay beautiful eggs again?

 

[famerzellman]

I would give them some crushed oyster shells that will harden the egg shells up. They just need more calcium which strengthens the egg shells oyster shells provide that. I always leave my oyster shells in a small separate dish for them to eat at their convenience.

 

[Silkies rule Forever]

They need more calcium

 

[Leesadoherty]

Can I just get crushed oyster shells from a pet shop or do I need to go to a special place?

 

[famerzellman]

Can I just get crushed oyster shells from a pet shop or do I need to go to a special place?

They sell them already crushed for you at your local feed store. Should be in with the chicken feed and grit.

 

[ChickNanny13]

I ferment Flock Raiser with Oyster Shells in a separate dish. Layer has only 16% protein, I prefer (after reading alot) higher protein ... FR has 20% plus chicks & Roos can eat & not having to purchase feed in stages. There are others with higher protein; All Flock, Grower, Multi Flock, etc ...

 

[Leesadoherty]

Thanks for your help I’ll be off to get some shell grit this morning. Is it weird that just one chicken has soft eggshells and not the other of their diet is the same?

 

[famerzellman]

Thanks for your help I’ll be off to get some shell grit this morning. Is it weird that just one chicken has soft eggshells and not the other of their diet is the same?

It happened to me too one laid soft shell eggs others did not she just need more calcium. I started leaving it in their coop for everyone to eat now I have nice hard shells

 

[Leesadoherty]

So I got some shell grit from a stock feed shop do I need to crush them up so they are fine or will they just eat the little shells whole?