I have 4 production reds, they were chicks when I got them March 4 2009, and does this mean they will lay thin-shelled eggs for the rest of their lives? It started around July of this year, so maybe they were 15 months old. I cut out treats (initially noticed that when they had an oatmeal treat the shells would be thin the next day), they are on Layena, offered oystershell calcium, changed treats to Dannon Plain yogurt with crushed eggshells in it and Layena on top, served in a watermelon bowl, got desperate last week and put oystershell calcium in their waterer with 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar. I have a busted egg that had almost no shell at least 3 times a week. The calcium in the waterer seemed to help initially, but maybe the vinegar wore off, because I had a busted egg yesterday with a paper thin shell, and one the day before. (I was going to get the oystershell calcium out of the waterer, but the great greenhouse project ate my last couple of days up)
I bought 5 Americauna chicks last weekend, keeping them quarantined, in the house at night, in the greenhouse in the daytime. I only eat 3 eggs a day, thought I had enough hens to keep me in eggs. Guess not.
Is this normal for Production Reds? Is there more I can or should do? I think I crushed up a calcium citrate and mixed it in their yogurt one day. I don't normally take tums.
Gypsi
