Softshell Egg?

[MinxFox]

Snow White laid a leathery egg. I knew she was going to lay soon by the way she was acting, but for the past two days I was searching for an egg and today I found the dried up leathery shell. I started googling this, but with chickens since I knew I would get more results...

From what I gathered, this could be a calcium deficiency and one source said that feeding them lots of treats can reduce their calcium levels. My birds do get a lot of treats...The same source also said that ways to introduce calcium are feeding them yogurt, grated cheese, and oyster grit.

In the past I have tried giving the peas oyster grit, but I am not so sure they eat it. I think I will try the yogurt. So I should get them sugar free yogurt right? Do they eat it plain or do you all like to mix it with something or make it into popsicles?

Should I also make sure I give them laying mash? I guess that contains some calcium right?

This started happening at the end of last year's breeding season and I thought it would go away. I don't want this to re-occur so I definitely need to give my ladies something extra.

There has been a lot of rain though, and one source I found said that sudden rain can make them lay a soft egg.

All of the birds act healthy so I don't think it is something more serious. I really need eggs this year our preacher wants two eggs from me and I think a nearby plant nursery that I am trying to get a job at wants to get chicks from me.

 

[crazyfeathers]

Hi, my RIR just started laying too and she is laying soft shelled eggs also. She is the only one in my large flock who is doing this. They get oyster shells, great feed, and treats. I think I will give her some time and see if it works itself out, also she is laying while roosting at night??? Crazy chickens..

 

[MinxFox]

Haha yeah I have had young peahens lay eggs off of the roost. This is an issue with my peahen Snow White as I don't have chickens, but I did figure that this could be very relatable to what happens with chickens.

 

[Dany12]

Best way to give calcium when there is lack of calcium is this:


It's so simple .... not need to be a PhD in Nutrition!

No more :

 

[MinxFox]

But will that teach them to eat their own eggs?

Is it safe to give them store bought egg shells?

 

[Dany12]

Me, I've never seen a peahen breaking an egg to eat it !
A chicken ... yes! but it's to eat the egg yolk.... it's a vice.

Is it safe to give them store bought egg shells? ... I think ... yes ! .... Is it safe to give them dog food ? Dyes... flavor enhancers ... and what kind of meat.... who's know ?

 

[DylansMom]

Me, I've never seen a peahen breaking an egg to eat it !
A chicken ... yes! but it's to eat the egg yolk.... it's a vice.

Is it safe to give them store bought egg shells? ... I think ... yes ! .... Is it safe to give them dog food ? Dyes... flavor enhancers ... and what kind of meat.... who's know ?

I had a peahen eat her own eggs several years ago. She had laid and sat on eggs for the 3 years prior to that and hatched babies successfully. Then all of a sudden that one year she just kept breaking them and eating them one by one. When she broke her last one she acted very distressed and I felt sorry for her, thinking maybe it was a series of unfortunate accidents, so I gave her 3 eggs from another pen, they were broken and eaten within a week. Nothing was different in her diet that I am aware of Oyster shell was available and she was on layer feed, the following year she was back to normal and hatched eggs again. I did lose her the year after that to egg binding, but no idea if that is in any way related to the egg eating?

 

[subhanalah]

Silkworms and butterworms (I think) are packed with bioavailable calcium and are great for keeping the birds entertained/mentally stimulated!
Www.mulberryfarms.com

 

[DylansMom]

Silkworms and butterworms (I think) are packed with bioavailable calcium and are great for keeping the birds entertained/mentally stimulated!
Www.mulberryfarms.com

Wow, thanks for that link, I had no idea you could buy all of those worms live!

 

[subhanalah]

Wow, thanks for that link, I had no idea you could buy all of those worms live!

keeping reptiles has paid dividends in my bird hobby!
You can buy the eggs and the chow for the silk worms and grow them yourself also!
I think your peas would really like wax worms since they have an affinity for fruit. But they should be fed very sparingly!