Thin eggs and low production in 2 y/o hens

[KYchickadee]

Like the topic header says, I have 12 two year old hens. I am lucky if I get 2 eggs a day. The shells are often so thin on the large eggs that they crack when I pick them up or rinse them off, or a chicken steps on them before I get to them and breaks them open. I don't think its an intentional egg eating situation because its always the large eggs and oftentimes the yolk is left behind in the shell. They eat Purina Layena pellets and oyster shells, plus whatever scraps we have. This has been going on for about 6 months. It got better for about a month somewhere in that 6 months, but about 2-3 weeks ago it got bad again. Suggestions?

 

[rjohns39]

Are they consuming the OS?

 

[DIGGIN CHICKEN]

had that problem ... firstly add calcium carbonate to their food (small quantities) ...that will toughen those shells right up .... secondly i added more protein in the form of alfalfa pellets .... and lastly ...gave them some vegetables everyday while adding a small amount of vit and min to their drinking water .... took a few weeks but they laying like champs now!

 

[MasAhora]

Where I live in Paraguay there is no such thing as oyster shells in any shop and few additives I can buy easily. So I always feedback the eggs shells to my hens and they self serve.

My emergency go-to-plan if they're under any type of stress is usually to grab a few eggs (you may need to buy, I like an egg per chicken). Scramble them up lightly and just hand crush the shells and add to their morning feed. Repeat this a day or two later.

They love it, I feel better and it seems to encourage them to eat the egg shells for calcium and give them a bit of a mutli-vit pick me up. I do like to change their food brand now and then for a spell, just a personal thing.

 

[rjohns39]

Where I live in Paraguay there is no such thing as oyster shells in any shop and few additives I can buy easily. So I always feedback the eggs shells to my hens and they self serve.

My emergency go-to-plan if they're under any type of stress is usually to grab a few eggs (you may need to buy, I like an egg per chicken). Scramble them up lightly and just hand crush the shells and add to their morning feed. Repeat this a day or two later.

They love it, I feel better and it seems to encourage them to eat the egg shells for calcium and give them a bit of a mutli-vit pick me up. I do like to change their food brand now and then for a spell, just a personal thing.

Look for sources of calcium in your area. often it can be found in hidden places. That's what the girls need.

 

[junebuggena]

Like the topic header says, I have 12 two year old hens. I am lucky if I get 2 eggs a day. The shells are often so thin on the large eggs that they crack when I pick them up or rinse them off, or a chicken steps on them before I get to them and breaks them open. I don't think its an intentional egg eating situation because its always the large eggs and oftentimes the yolk is left behind in the shell. They eat Purina Layena pellets and oyster shells, plus whatever scraps we have. This has been going on for about 6 months. It got better for about a month somewhere in that 6 months, but about 2-3 weeks ago it got bad again. Suggestions?

The recent poor shell quality could be due to the time of year and their systems starting to shut down in preparation for molting.

 

[aart]

They eat Purina Layena pellets and oyster shells, plus whatever scraps we have. This has been going on for about 6 months. It got better for about a month somewhere in that 6 months, but about 2-3 weeks ago it got bad again. Suggestions?

Probably not molting then, tho current shell thinness may be due to onset of molt.

Good shells are about more than just calcium, they need the vitamins/minerals/amino acids to uptake and apply that calcium. Too many scraps/treats can dilute the amount of those nutrients they ingest. Old feed(older than 2-3 months, look at mfg dates)can have degraded vitamins/minerals/amino acids content.

I'd suggest trying a dose of poultry multi vitamins before adding more or different calcium supplements.

 

[KYchickadee]

Are they consuming the OS?

Yes I put a little out each day so they don't poop in it and its always almost gone the next morning.

 

[KYchickadee]

had that problem ... firstly add calcium carbonate to their food (small quantities) ...that will toughen those shells right up .... secondly i added more protein in the form of alfalfa pellets .... and lastly ...gave them some vegetables everyday while adding a small amount of vit and min to their drinking water .... took a few weeks but they laying like champs now!

Where do i get calcium carbonate? Is it a powder? And the alfalfa pellets, do you mean like rabbit pellets?

 

[rjohns39]

@aart well said. There are a lot of variables into egg shell quality.