Two of my hens laying terrible eggs

[beany_bot]

Hi, two of my 3 young girls (who only started laying a month ago) are laying eggs with terribly thin shells, paper thin. Often broken and even maybe pecked.

It's weird because they seem to just drop them out wherever they are (from the roost, outside). Rather than consciously "lay" them properly in the egg boxes.

I don't know what's going on because a week ago I had three perfect eggs in the egg boxes all laid nicely and properly. But it seems like when they are laying these thin, broken eggs, they just dump them anywhere!

I give them adlib crushed oyster shells (they have never shown any interest at all). And I feed the crushed eggshells back to them, again, they have never shown any interest at all. So not sure how I can get more calcium into them.

Confused as to what to do.

 

[LaFleche]

Have you seen or heard them sneeze more often lately? A runny nose or bubbly eye?

The Infectious Bronchitis virus presents like a cold and can lead to issues with egg laying.

https://www.msdvetmanual.com/poultry/infectious-bronchitis/infectious-bronchitis-in-chickens

 

[LaFleche]

You can try and feed them both a daily tablet of human calcium citrate 600+vitamin d for 7-10 days to see if it helps building better egg shells.

 

[beany_bot]

Have you seen or heard them sneeze more often lately? A runny nose or bubbly eye?

The Infectious Bronchitis virus predents like a cold and can lead to issues with egg laying.

https://www.msdvetmanual.com/poultry/infectious-bronchitis/infectious-bronchitis-in-chickens

No, don't think they have that.

 

[beany_bot]

You can try and feed them both a daily tablet of human calcium citrate 600+vitamin d for 7-10 days to see if it helps building better egg shells.

Will do! thanks. 600mg per hen? The Sussex seems to be fine? I guess I could crush a 600mg tablet into some food and serve it them all?

 

[LaFleche]

Will do! thanks. 600mg per hen? The Sussex seems to be fine? I guess I could crush a 600mg tablet into some food and serve it them all?

Yes, one tablet of 600 mg per day for the ones having egg shell problems.
You can just pop the tablet into their beak and they will swallow them whole.

Grab the hen from the roost at night, sit her on your lap with her head facing forward, then grab the wattles with one hand and pull down until she opens her beak. Then quickly slip the tablet in with your other hand and let go of the wattles so she can swallow. It is really easy to do, and don't worry sbout the tablet size as chickens can swallow whole mice and other critters without problems.

 

[beany_bot]

Couldn't get calcium citrate. Will calcium carbonate work?

 

[LaFleche]

Couldn't get calcium citrate. Will calcium carbonate work? View attachment 4137456

It does, but calcium citrate has a better uptake meaning works faster.

 

[Folly's place]

What's their diet? Base feed, extras, everything?
Also, young birds just starting to lay eggs can have 'glitches' that resolve on their own.
Mary