I have two hens of laying age: 1 year old Buff Orpingtons. I've been keeping an egg diary on them for the last couple months. All eggs have been beautiful, hard eggs. Yesterday, they each laid an egg. When I went out this morning, I found an intact soft-shell egg and a broken soft-shell egg right under their favorite roost. Normally, I know which egg comes from which hen based on shape and color but I can't with these. I recently switched from a 16% Layer crumble to Purina Flock Raiser. Could this be the issue? But how, if the eggs yesterday were the same as they have always been? The only reason I switched is because they are housed with four 10 week old chicks and having two separate feeders wasn't going well. They preferred the baby food.
I tried offering crushed oyster shell but they had no interest in the pebbles (I really need to crush them up more because these are the size of legit pebbles.) I have caught one hen eating the egg shells from our compost pile once. I'm not sure if this is a regular thing or not because when I am home, they free range and when I'm at work, they are locked in their yard.
Thoughts? Advice? I really figured the Flock Raiser would meet everyone's needs. I am willing to do whatever for these girls!! Out of my ten chickens, they are my top birds. Pictures attached.
I tried offering crushed oyster shell but they had no interest in the pebbles (I really need to crush them up more because these are the size of legit pebbles.) I have caught one hen eating the egg shells from our compost pile once. I'm not sure if this is a regular thing or not because when I am home, they free range and when I'm at work, they are locked in their yard.
Thoughts? Advice? I really figured the Flock Raiser would meet everyone's needs. I am willing to do whatever for these girls!! Out of my ten chickens, they are my top birds. Pictures attached.