something wicked this way comes.

[justusnak]

ok, I am guessing its the heat. My gals get good layer pellets...free range ALL day...get veggies in the heat of the day from the fridge, to cool them down, they have oyster shell free choice, and crushed egg shells about once or twice a week. Not sure whats going on here. Any advice?

 

[Southern28Chick]

Whoa, that's weird. I don't know. Hope someone can help you out soon.

 

[Varisha]

Are the shells thin maybe?

 

[justusnak]

In the first pic, the shells are very thin...in the last 2 pics, NO shell....just membrane! Wierd.

 

[speckledhen]

Deb, I think it's the heat myself. My girls' shells aren't like that, but they have gotten thinner, not rock hard like usual. I thought it was that they weren't eating the oyster shell, but now I'm convinced the extreme heat is playing a part.

 

[justusnak]

Thanks Cynthia......I am thinking the heat...I HOPE so...these are from my one yr old RIR and comets. I dont want to lose any of these gals. They lay the BEST eggs...usually.

 

[speckledhen]

The ones that have thinner shells of my girls are also the ones over a year old. All the newbies who are laying have really hard little shells on their eggs. Maybe the older ones are having a harder time in the heat maintaining the right balance of fluids, etc.

 

[Southern28Chick]

Quote:
How are the temps in Indiana? I'm just wondering because I don't have eggs yet but next year in our 100 + heat I don't know how my eggs will be.

 

[wolfpack62001]

I dont think its the heat, Im in Southern Alabama and its been 104 plus down here.
My Hens are all new to laying and there nowhere near regular but there eggs are good and hard shelled.
Maybe the feed? Ive never seen eggs like that.
The only thing I can think of is Calciume, are you feeding layer feed?
Hope this helps

 

[speckledhen]

wolf, you said it-yours are new to laying. All mine who are new layers have tough shells, but my girls who are a year and a half old have shells that are just not as hard as they were. Deb and I are both feeding good quality feed plus crushed eggshells plus oyster shell. I do think the heat is playing a part with the older girls to some degree.
**** I just found this abstract about the thin shells from heat stress. Here's the summary:

Abstract
1. The effect of high temperature on eggshell quality was investigated by measuring the mechanical and material properties of shell and membranes.

2. Heat exposure resulted in a decrease in zootechnical performance and eggshell thickness, increase in egg breakage, and unchanged egg shape index.

3. The static stiffness (Kstat), dynamic stiffness (Kdyn) and modulus of elasticity of the eggshell were not significantly affected by high temperature. Membrane prolongation increased significantly while membrane attachment strength and breakage strength tended to decrease and increase, respectively. The relationships between these variables were changed by high temperature.

4. Neither Kstat nor Kdyn could give a reasonable explanation for the changed eggshell quality induced by heat stress. The decreased eggshell thickness and changed properties of shell membrane may be responsible, at least partially, for the decreased shell quality of eggs from heat-stressed hens.​