Thin Shelled Eggs

[mcbridb]

We added 10 chickens and 1 guinea fowl to our flock about one month ago. They were all around 1 year old. My 3 hens I already had are 1 1/2 yrs old and 9 months old. I knew that I would have thin shelled eggs or shell less eggs due to the stress of adding/moving chickens. This has happened. I countered with having crushed oyster shell in one feeder, giving them pumpkin, squash and cottage cheese. They won't eat the oyster shell--they totally ignore it. The pumpkin, squash and cottage cheese are gone in no time. They get this a couple times a week. I am feeding them Dumor crumbles, treats of cracked corn and the aforementioned extras as well as veggies. The eggs are still thin shelled, wrinkled and occasionally a shell less one. What am I missing/doing wrong? One of the hens did die suddenly about 3 weeks after I got them. The others have shown no sign of problems.

 

[urban escapee]

I add some Black Oiled Sunflower Seeds for the extra protein. I am sure there are other ideas but I am kinda new to chickens as well.

 

[bantyshanty]

It's strange that alll the hens have this problem! You might look into disease as a culprit, instead of straight nutritional deficiency.
I read recently of a disease that chickens can have & get over (is it CRD, or Marek's, or something else? I don't remember) that will leave the chickens laying thin-shelled eggs, for a while at least. I don't remember the disease nor the thread I read it on a few weeks ago. I only know I have a pullet of 2 years who has had a bit of fungal or mold contamination in the lung (I keep it at bay with vinegar in her water), and she sleeps a little more and has had thinner shelled eggs since she got the disease. The vet confirmed the fungal/mold part to me.
Certain diseases of chickens interfere with the body's ability to absorm calcium & other minerals. I can't be more specific. Maybe you can find this thread & other helpful info by doing lots of searching on BYC, but it sounds like you're doing some great things. I would personally not give them cottage cheese because residue can get stuck in the crop and grow mold. Chickens & dairy weren't made for each other. Dark leafy greens, along with your pumpkin, have lots of calcium, magnesium & trace minerals. How about those? My chickens love spinach, chard, and kale

It also could be sequellae of some antibiotic or wormer they were all given....

It might take a while to leave their system. I don't know much about this. Just that some drugs and antibiotics can hinder calcium absorption in humans.

Good luck!

 

[urban escapee]

LOL went out to the coop after I read this post this morning...I got my first perfectly shaped shell-less egg. It wasnt in the nesting box though, it was on the ground.

 

[mcbridb]

Now if you had said to give them tomatoes (which they LOVE!), cucumbers, watermelon, cantelope, squash or pumpkin I would be out the door to the store. If I give them lettuce, cabbage, greens it will sit there and mold. They won't touch it. Mine are so spoiled it's sad. I will see about making a run for the sunflower seeds. Hopefully that will help them. Thank you for the suggestions.