Thin shelled eggs... Normal?

[Laylahege]

New here... I have 6 hens (pullets) who are 5 months on April 1st. 3 are bantam easter eggers and have been laying nice solid healthy eggs for a couple weeks now. My other 3 are Barred Rocks. I'm getting 1 normal barred rock egg about every 3 days and 1-2 very thin-shelled, almost membrane eggs almost every other day. They've left me a total of maybe 8 so far. Most are broken or squished. Not sure if it's only 1-2 of them as they're all cooped together. I know it's early for them, but seeing as how my easter eggers are laying so well I'm concerned. They're on layer feed, scratch and they free range during the day. These are my first chickens and I love them so much. Any advice would be helpful!

 

[_-Captain BRM-_]

Go get some oyster shells, TSC of FFAH should carry them. Very easy fix put them in a bowl and they will eat what they need. You can also put the egg shells in in the oven at 350 for 10-15 minutes. Then I crush them up and put them in their food, or you could offer them separately.

 

[Laylahege]

Go get some oyster shells, TSC of FFAH should carry them. Very easy fix put them in a bowl and they will eat what they need. You can also put the egg shells in in the oven at 350 for 10-15 minutes. Then I crush them up and put them in their food, or you could offer them separately.

I've been giving crushed egg shells for 2-3 weeks. Is oyster better?

 

[_-Captain BRM-_]

I've been giving crushed egg shells for 2-3 weeks. Is oyster better?

Oyster will be more power full to get them back up to normal and egg shells will help maintain it

 

[aart]

Cut out the scratch.

Oyster shells will last longer in the gizzard than egg shells.

 

[bertogomus]

Cut out the scratch.

Oyster shells will last longer in the gizzard than egg shells.

Why cut out the scratch?

 

[aart]

Why cut out the scratch?

Junk food....like candy instead of nutritious food.
Reduces the amount of minerals/vitamins/amino acids they need.

 

[bertogomus]

Junk food....like candy instead of nutritious food.
Reduces the amount of minerals/vitamins/amino acids they need.

That makes sense!

 

[mtsaz]

I have a young hen about 3-4 months old who just started laying. she laid an egg with no shell. She has laid 5 eggs in her life plus the one without the shell. I give them calcium in their feed- mixed in- from tractor supply and also diatom earth- for parasites like a teaspoon per gallon of mixed feed. Not much. And not everytime.

Why would this happen? I guess once is ok- two times is a cause for concern?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Why would this happen? I guess once is ok- two times is a cause for concern?

Normal for new layers or birds coming into/out of lay to have a few quirky eggs, so I wouldn't consider it a problem.