Thick egg shells

[flytpm]

Why are my egg shells so thick? When you break them you always have to pick little pieces out of the bowl. I feed them layer pellets and throw in a cup of scratch daily. They have grit all the time.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Part of it may be that the eggs are so fresh, the egg inside has not lost any significant moisture so the membrane has not pulled away from the shell. I think that is why fresh eggs are so hard to peel when boiled.

I don't know where you are in Tennessee, but some of that state is limestone country, like the part I grew up in. If your chickens have access to outside, they are probably picking up the limestone to use as grit and getting a lot of calcium from that. They also get calcium from the layer pellets. Thick shells just mean they are getting enough calcium and they have the genetics to process it.

 

[DawnSuiter]

My black orpingtons lay a really thick shelled egg, while the others are more normal "thick". So.. I think part of it can be genetic.
However, I have never put out Oyster shell (until recently) and didn't feed a layer feed and STILL got hard eggs from everyone.

I have decided to attribute it to my hard well water which has a high calcium content.

 

[flytpm]

Ok thanks. Is there a trick to keep them from being so flaky and hard to peel?

 

[canada-goose]

Let them sit in the fridge for a week or two~it works miracles on hard-to-peel eggs!

 

[Kittymomma]

I found a method on a previous thread that has worked great for me. I wish I could remember who to credit for it.

1. Bring water to a boil.
2. Add your eggs (even fresh ones.)
3. Boil eggs for 14 minutes.
4. Place boiled eggs in sink or bowl filled with ice and water--Spoon them out, don't pour them in hot water and all.
5. Peel you easy peel eggs.