Soft shell/ no shell eggs

[tbone tinkles]

Hi people,

I have 4 birds which all lay well apart from one which produces almost daily an egg with no shell or very soft shell which breaks. There's a sticky mess in the box every morning.

All the birds have access to layers pellets, and also get good scratch around the garden each day where they forage for bugs etc. So basically they all eat the same thing but only 1 bird is having problems.

Seems to me that it must be an issue with the bird herself rather than what she is or isn't eating. Just wondering if any one has had any similar experiences and solutions!>?!

Thanks

T

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

What is the birds age? Could simply be a new layer hiccup with her shell gland still working out its' kinks.

Or it could indeed be a girl that doesn't process things as well.

Adding oyster shell free choice on the side might help. While the layer may be plenty, some individuals do need more. You can also offer a little tums for rapid uptake and see if it helps. If she is just coming into lay it may work itself out still.

If she is mature and it's an ongoing problem... I would rehome (with disclosure) or for me... process for freezer camp.

Good luck!

 

[tbone tinkles]

@EggSighted4Life thanks for the reply!

she used to lay ok, we got only got her last year when she was just starting to lay. So she's probably about a year old or so. I don't imagine age is the issue.

some of the things you mentioned have confused me a little... what is 'little tums for rapid uptake'? i couldn't find anything online about it.

freezer camp = kill and eat?

thanks

 

[Doc7]

@EggSighted4Life thanks for the reply!

she used to lay ok, we got only got her last year when she was just starting to lay. So she's probably about a year old or so. I don't imagine age is the issue.

some of the things you mentioned have confused me a little... what is 'little tums for rapid uptake'? i couldn't find anything online about it.

freezer camp = kill and eat?

thanks

Tums , the antacid tablets, as a calcium source that is rapidly uptaked by the chickens digestive system.

Freezer camp is kill and eat.

I recommend trying oyster shell in an empty tin can attached to coop wall
And see if that fixes it first.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

@EggSighted4Life thanks for the reply!

she used to lay ok, we got only got her last year when she was just starting to lay. So she's probably about a year old or so. I don't imagine age is the issue.

some of the things you mentioned have confused me a little... what is 'little tums for rapid uptake'? i couldn't find anything online about it.

freezer camp = kill and eat?

thanks

Yes Doc7 got it correct. Tums is an antacid.

If she happened to go through a molt and coming out of it then it could still be a hiccup. Most birds will not lay any eggs while they molt, which is replacing old feathers with new ones. And some will experience this type of thing when returning to lay.

 

[tbone tinkles]

Thanks guys i've just ordered some oyster shell grit...
i hope she gets back on it soon

 

[tbone tinkles]

can i just jump back in here....
what is the best way to administer the antacid (tums) to the chicken in question? I'm trying to think of what to mix it with/ in. And also what kind of dose?? don't want to make her OD
Thanks

 

[tbone tinkles]

any thoughts on this?

 

[Schnebsy]

Do you ever wet your feed? That will vary their dry feed menu and allow you to dissolve and mix. Try a couple of tablets. I don’t think they can overdose, just dump. Hopefully, this will jumpstart the process and calcium uptake will start and she can do the normal oyster shell uptake. You should have oyster shell available like a salt lick for cattle.