Some of my hens lay eggs with soft shells

[christineavatar]

I have twenty-five hens (Americanas) and every day I get one or two eggs with a feeble shell. If you pick then up they are hard but they will break if you squeeze them too hard. It seems that I need to add something to the feed I give them. Any suggestions?

 

[townchicks]

Make sure you are feeding a layer food, plus have oyster shell available free choice all the time. I'd do several containers to make sure the less dominant hens have access.

 

[SueT]

X2 on oyster shell free choice.

 

[christineavatar]

My thanks to SueT and townchicks. I feed that a Layana(?) crumble that has oyster shell in it but from your advice I should add additional. I will give that a go.

 

[SueT]

I just put some on the ground. A bunch of it. Those that need it will know to take it.