Soft Shelled Egg? Egg Eaters?? UPDATE

[Reurra]

Thank you for your reply! I was beginning to think I would have to tell her that culling was the only option. She is in love with the hen that has the soft egg problem. One of her hens is laying eggs that seem very brittle, though the shell looks relatively normal. How long can we expect this issue to continue? Can this eventually lead up to egg eating? If the OS is poured into the feed, will they get enough of it in trace amounts? These are great things to know since my own girls should be laying by the middle of summer!

 

[Beekissed]

Thank you for your reply! I was beginning to think I would have to tell her that culling was the only option. She is in love with the hen that has the soft egg problem. One of her hens is laying eggs that seem very brittle, though the shell looks relatively normal. How long can we expect this issue to continue? Can this eventually lead up to egg eating? If the OS is poured into the feed, will they get enough of it in trace amounts? These are great things to know since my own girls should be laying by the middle of summer!

No it won't cause dedicated egg eaters. All indications point towards a calcium deficiency so the OS in the feed and maybe increase protein for awhile should get them back on track.

Tell her that placing some ACV(apple cider vinegar) in the water will help also....might help with the uptake of the calcium and phosphorus. Everyone seems to place 1-2 tablespoons per gal. Make sure it isn't in a metal waterer as the ACV will corrode the metals and cause them to leach into the water.

If these birds don't have access to greens, tell her to feed some spinach and other dark, leafy greens also.

 

[Reurra]

I throw grass shavings in to my birds and they love it. I pick it myself not with a mower. Ill suggest that to her too, spinach is pretty easy to get too.

She has galvanized waterers, would those be affected by the ACV?

 

[Beekissed]

Yes....big no-no with ACV. Maybe she could use another type of waterer during this time?

 

[Reurra]

we cut a 5 gal. bucket in half and stuck it in the middle of an old tire to support it.

 

[Beekissed]

Sounds good enough to me!