Thin Eggs.

[Okydoky]

One our of 4 Hens at times lays very thin touch and cracks. We feed Cracked Corn, Oyster Shell mixed in maybe we need to do seperately? They r in a 12x12 dog kennel w their lil coop. They are meat/layers big ones but are a tad large. Their Coop is sm even tho it said 4 could live in it, suggestions other than what i have read i guess? They get scraps of vegies, sunflower seeds and mealworms for treats

 

[awagnon]

I am learning there are a few reasons this happens. Not enough calcium. I read not to mix into food, but don't know for sure. Stress. If you know the coop is too small, maybe they are stressed. Just a thought. Also, doesn't say where you are, but excessive heat is also said to cause this. We have been having lots of heat here in north texas. I put ice in their water several times a day to cool it and run a mister to make shallow puddles so they can cool themselves via their feet. Their run is also shaded well with a shade cloth and they have a spot under the coop where they can dig a dust bath hole. Good thing we have had breezes where we are or it would be UNBEARABLE!

 

[Okydoky]

thank you , yes i have thought about what you said, will try to add more calcium and not mix it. Its an off and on thing so probly combo of things? i am used to moms free range in country I am in sm town in Co and yes 90s-100 lately very hot for here early in yr. We run a fan for them and their top is covered for shade. will keep pluggin along thanks again

 

[50-45-1]

We feed Cracked Corn, Oyster Shell mixed in maybe we need to do seperately?

Yes, put the oyster shell in a separate feed dish. The hens then can guage how much of it they want. Also supply a feed hopper of granite grit. Chickens dont have teeth and rock pebbles in the gizzard grind the feed/oyster shell, so they can absorbe the nutrition from it.
Lastly cracked corn is not a good food for chickens. It's a treet like a chocolate bar for a child. Please go to the feed store and buy your hens a balanced commercial feed crumble especially formulated for laying hens. It will keep them healthy and harden the egg shells.
It may take them a while to get used to it, but stand firm and offer them only this. Cut back on the table scraps except really beneficial things like carrots or apples. But this only in moderation as they NEED to get that layer feed more than anything.
You soft shell situation if it continues can cause egg boundness that usually kills a hen. Also broken eggs in the nest boxes will draw bugs and a bad smell AND can start your hens the bad habit of egg eating which is a bad habit virtually impossible to stop once the hen develops it.
Good luck!

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

Ditto, a diet of commercial grade layer feed. It will make everyone healthy!