thin egg shell

[0die]

started getting some thin eggshells recently...

appears to be from a single bird at this point...light brown egg (got 4 birds that give brownish eggs and I don't know whos is whos...sorry, not a peeping tom)

Facts:
1. mixed flock, all birds different breed
2. 3 are 3-1/4 year old (2 give brown eggs)
3. 3 are 1-1/4 year old (2 give brown eggs)
4. all fed "layer" feed from tractor supply
5. all free range 1/2 backyard all day long (area is now devoid of plant life and has limited bugs by this point) 15x80 foot area
6. given random vegetable scraps, scratch, old cereal & bread as treats. occasional dried & crushed egg shells
7.water available all day/night (5 gal bucket with drinking cups)
8. large, well ventilated coop/run
9. oyster shell has been made available but no noticeable consumption

Possibilities:
1. calcium deficiency, but is only affecting 1 bird?
2. age related, 3 birds are into their "4th" year?
3. heat related, south texas heat?

Opinions??????

Is this the correct forum?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Probably heat related. When a hen pants it affects her blood ph, which in turn affects calcium uptake. Another option is it's getting late in the season and birds are running out of available calcium reserves in their bones.

You may want to tweak your diet. My guess is the layer from the tractor supply is a 16% protein, or is it 18%. If 16% , all those extras will dilute the overall daily protein enough to cause deficiencies.

As we approach the beginning of the fall molt your hens will require extra protein to grow new feathers in. I would definitely switch to something higher in protein, or at least offer something else like a non medicated starter grower, a flock raiser, or a feather fixer, when you start to see the feathers flying.

 

[jthornton]

I was just fixing to ask this same question about thin egg shells. Now I have some ideas to try out. Mine have been on a 50/50 blend of 16%/18% all flock plus oyster shell on the side. I put a gallon size ice in the water bucket and have a fan blowing on their coolest spot. I'll have to see what my options are.

JT

 

[0die]

yes, it's TSC brand layer feed...16%... the higher stuff I'm seen doesn't seem to cover calcium, or am I not reading the labels right? I would like to find an 18-20% with calcium but haven't found any..

I tried higher protein stuff before w/o the calcium and provided oyster shell on the side and the shell was never touched..

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I was just fixing to ask this same question about thin egg shells. Now I have some ideas to try out. Mine have been on a 50/50 blend of 16%/18% all flock plus oyster shell on the side. I put a gallon size ice in the water bucket and have a fan blowing on their coolest spot. I'll have to see what my options are.

JT

I read giving them water with baking soda in it, or electrolytes can help level out the blood ph during spells of hot weather. The article said 1/4 cup of baking soda per gallon given for no more than a week.

It is supposed to help with calcium absorption although I haven't tried it myself. Definitely don't put any vinegar in the water in hot weather which can inhibit calcium absorption. Without enough calcium birds can suffer muscle weakness, and egg binding due to that weakness.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

yes, it's TSC brand layer feed...16%... the higher stuff I'm seen doesn't seem to cover calcium, or am I not reading the labels right? I would like to find an 18-20% with calcium but haven't found any..

I tried higher protein stuff before w/o the calcium and provided oyster shell on the side and the shell was never touched..

Calcium can be provided by a separate bowl of oyster shells. There is no need for a layer. Your hens will consume more oyster shells on a different type of feed. I prefer my hens to regulate their own needs as far as calcium. Layer is often a one size fits all type. Not all hens lay at the same rate, and not all need that extra calcium daily. They definitely don't need it during down times like the molt, or when they are taking a break.

 

[0die]

smarter people than me came up with 16% layer feed...

I've heard of people going straight grower with oyster on the side...but my girls seem to like the pellets better than crumbles, plus it doesn't clog my feeder.

Maybe I should try mixing 16% pellets and 20% crumbles and put some oyster on the side? a thousand ways to do it.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

smarter people than me came up with 16% layer feed...

I've heard of people going straight grower with oyster on the side...but my girls seem to like the pellets better than crumbles, plus it doesn't clog my feeder.

Maybe I should try mixing 16% pellets and 20% crumbles and put some oyster on the side? a thousand ways to do it.

There is many ways to feed. If you are gonna choose to feed a 16% ration I would stop adding extras as it will cause protein deficiencies, especially in higher production hens.

I personally feed an 18% all flock ration that is a pellet. I didn't care for the waste of a crumble either, and am always glad when my chicks are big enough to eat the pellet. I have fed an All Flock ration for 4 years now and all my problems disappeared when I switched off a layer.

You do have to figure out what works best for you and your birds.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Oh and a layer ration is formulated to be fed as the sole ration to actively laying hens.

 

[0die]

waste wasn't an issue with the crumbles...I have a feeder that wastes nothing...5 gal water bottle into a 3" pvc pipe with a 180 at the bottom....auto feeds for a week or two and there is no waste on the ground anywhere...