Thin egg shells!!!

[bertogomus]

No matter what I do, top dollar nutrena feed, powdered eggs shells,
Oyster shells, BSF larvae, I still get thin shells!! This started about 3 months ago. This can’t be. Normal! Is it the feed? 3% calcium.
Please help! Just got new chicks and doesn’t want the issue with them! Tyia!

 

[nuthatched]

It could just be genetic, not all chickens have super string shells. Cut out the the bsflarva for a bit, it's not helping and they can go without.

 

[MadGardener]

I have noticed improvement in shell quality after reducing treats and switching to a higher protein feed. I'm very pleased with 18-20% all flock pellets. I offer no more than 2 handfuls of treats between 8 birds every other day, whether it's scratch or kitchen scraps or excess eggs.

 

[bertogomus]

It could just be genetic, not all chickens have super string shells. Cut out the the bsflarva for a bit, it's not helping and they can go without.

I sure will! Thanks!!

 

[bertogomus]

I have noticed improvement in shell quality after reducing treats and switching to a higher protein feed. I'm very pleased with 18-20% all flock pellets. I offer no more than 2 handfuls of treats between 8 birds every other day, whether it's scratch or kitchen scraps or excess eggs.

I will do that.
Thanks!

 

[Kiki]

I sure will! Thanks!!

How often are you feeding treats?

 

[bertogomus]

How often are you feeding treats?

Daily. I give them handful of scratch and BFS at night when I put them up.
I give them greens in the winter.

 

[bertogomus]

How often are you feeding treats?

I’ll also mention I just recently treated the flock for MITES!! Hundreds of wild birds this winter I believe brought them in. Never had an issues before.
Treated with DE,
Checked and they are fine. Could this be why?

 

[MadGardener]

That's too much treats. I'd recommend entirely cutting out treats until you see shell improvement.

My birds will go after tossed pellets. And like my dog, they think their normal feed softened with water is magically delicious.

 

[MadGardener]

DE won't treat mites. Permethrin on birds and coop will. I'll let more experienced folks elaborate.