Thin eggs and low production in 2 y/o hens

[KYchickadee]

Old feed(older than 2-3 months, look at mfg dates)can have degraded vitamins/minerals/amino acids content..

I refuse to buy feed that is over a month old. We once went to three places to find fresh food. Lol

 

[KYchickadee]

One more question... We have an Easter egger bantam and an Olive Egger mix that literally stop production for weeks/months at a time and then out of the blue will start laying every single day. Why? They seem totally healthy.

 

[rjohns39]

Mill dates are not necessarily what they seem. My local mill can hold ingredients for a long time and date it the day they make the feed.

 

[sawilliams]

One more question... We have an Easter egger bantam and an Olive Egger mix that literally stop production for weeks/months at a time and then out of the blue will start laying every single day. Why? They seem totally healthy.

I find for myself EE are stubborn layers. They seem to be the mostly likely to quit under any sort of stress. For mine they will stop laying anytime the temps are over about 95 degrees Fahrenheit and are the first to stop for fall and last to start in spring.

 

[aart]

One more question... We have an Easter egger bantam and an Olive Egger mix that literally stop production for weeks/months at a time and then out of the blue will start laying every single day. Why? They seem totally healthy.

EE can be inconsistent layers. Sometimes you will never know exactly why. Have had several EE's like that...as well as other breeds.
Like @Blooie says.."they're not pez dispensers".

Mill dates are not necessarily what they seem. My local mill can hold ingredients for a long time and date it the day they make the feed.

True Dat...Local Mill nutrient levels are often 'estimated' using a 'recipe'. I believe, maybe incorrectly, that commercial feeds are more likely to have accurate dating and nutrient content. But since none of us can test the products/ingredients ourselves<shrugs>.

 

[KYchickadee]

I think from now on, when we get more chickens (in a few years) I will stick with cochin bantams. Other than their constant broodiness, they have been the most consistent layers. And if I get another cochin bantam roo that isn't useless like this one, maybe I can let them raise chicks. Poor Ollie... He is so confused BUT SO FREAKING CUTE!!!!

 

[DIGGIN CHICKEN]

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

Calcium carbonate is crushed lime stone (different grades of powder --i use a very fine one) or you can use agricultural lime .... cheap as dirt .... alfalfa can be picked and fed to chickens fresh (doesn't have to be dried ).... i just buy the pellets cause its easier to store ... alfalfa is high in protein (about 18 percent) ...i'm sure rabbits eat it as well ... soya beans are another source of high protein (about 44 percent) make sure they roasted .... ensure they getting enough vitamins and minerals too ..

why you ask ...during molting chickens redirect protein to feather production - so less egg production-- also every egg contains at least 6 percent protein ... people tend to think grains are important ...they are to a limit ...but corn and cereal grains do not contain alot of protein -- think its lower than 8 percent ! and as for shells well ..they are pretty much calcium carbonate .... but don't give too much ..can cause kidney problems!

 

[DIGGIN CHICKEN]

Just to clarify ...i feed mine a mix of corn , alfalfa and sunflower seeds mixed with a little supplement and calcium carbonate... everyday the get veggies ..either cabbage , carrots, apples, water melon or pumpkin ... once a week i put supplement in their water ... and that's it!

 

[lazy gardener]

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.

What she said! I'm convinced that calcium and protein are but a small part of the egg shell/egg quality puzzle.

I refuse to buy feed that is over a month old. We once went to three places to find fresh food. Lol

Agreed. I'll walk out empty handed before buying old feed. IMO, I intend to be able to use it up within 6 weeks of mill date.

One more question... We have an Easter egger bantam and an Olive Egger mix that literally stop production for weeks/months at a time and then out of the blue will start laying every single day. Why? They seem totally healthy.

 

[KYchickadee]

Figured it out. They have cecal worms. Saw them in their feces today. Where do I get Fenbendazole and how do I give it?