Thin shells - not eating oyster shell

[Medicine Man]

These were production Barred Rocks. "Heritage Breed" is a fallacy anyhow.

 

[galanie]

I'm not sure about heat making the shells thin. It's 100 degrees here with high humidity and I'm doing all I can to keep the girls cool and they are still panting like dogs much of the time. But those eggs still have some serious shells on them. Maybe a combination of age and heat but heat alone, I don't know.

 

[Saltysteele]

i have yet to do some searching on whether vitamins can help thicken shells. several have complained on here that even though their chickens were eating oyster shells, they weren't laying thick-shelled eggs.

in a human being vitamin D (whether by pill or by sunlight) helps with the body's absorption and utilization of calcium. has anyone tried this to see if it helps? my layers don't have this problem, but i'm curious in case they do in the future

 

[mojoy]

I also do not agree with the age thing. I've been reading posts for a long time, but created account today to finally make my first post I got my first chickens this year, they were hatched in May and June. The only breed I have 2 of is australorp, otherwise, I have a little bit of everything. I only have 3 left from the first order, and 5 from the second, had trouble with the cat and dogs getting them The hens from May have been laying for almost 2 months and have beautiful eggs with very thick, hard shells, even a double yolker! But now that the June hens are starting to lay i have noticed some very thin shells, the one to day was rubbery and the yolk squeezed out when I went to pick it up. I have had oyster shells out for a couple weeks and sat with them until I was sure all of them had eaten some the day I introduced it. I had tried crushed egg shells before and they wouldn't touch them. I have about half an acre of fenced yard they free range in. Most of the plant life in my yard is gone, so have been growing wheat and corn fodder for them on top of the layer feed. They don't appear to be eating any of the oyster shell. I have put it in multiple places where they like to spend a majority of their time. Obviously for me, age and heat have nothing to do with the thin, almost non existent shells on the eggs. Its been averaging mid 40's right now in Kansas and getting colder. After reading today, I think I will try putting the oyster shell in with their feed. Not sure if I could make it work in the fodder? I've been thinking about finding a powder to put in the fodder, I know they make it for reptiles. Any thoughts?

 

[mechelleb]

So I am getting it could be a normal heat related thing for thin shells. I am assuming it can also effect laying habits?

 

[waddles99]

So I am getting it could be a normal heat related thing for thin shells. I am assuming it can also effect laying habits?

Heat does affect laying, yes. In the middle of summer where we are right now, I am seeing my girls lay a lot less.