Very Thin Shell on Egg

[bobchell]

Despite this weather my chickens, 3 RIR's, have been giving us plenty of eggs. Production slowed down to about 1 or 2 a day since we hit the minus zero temps at night for the last 4 nights in a row, to be expected. Today we got an egg that was a lighter brown and slightly darker brown on the tip. When I went to put it into the carton I rubbed my finger lightly over the discolored part and it cracked. Is this because my chickens need more calcium in their diet? We have noticed the shells being slightly thinner so we did just buy Oyster Shell for them and just gave it to them today, as instructed mixed in with their food. My little monsters picked all the Oyster Shell out of the food container and left the food pellets! Now I am worried they will have too much calcium! Is that possible? and what will happen? For now on I will just throw some on the floor of the run, didn't expect them to do that.....

 

[Mygirls20]

We give our chickens yogurt and shredded cheese they love it and it seems to help the older chickens lay thicker shells. Its also a blast watching the chickens eat yogurt. Its messy so stand back my chickens didnt really know what to think of it at first but now they are pros eating it.

 

[Back2MyRoots]

I give my girls a bit of yogurt or cottage cheese every day. The calcium helps with the shells and the protein helps with the eggs and their feathers.

 

[bobchell]

I have some yogurt, does it matter if it is flavored such as strawberry or blueberry?

 

[sumi]

Every time I saw yoghurt recommended here it specifically said plain yoghurt, so I think stick with plain.

 

[Mygirls20]

I have some yogurt, does it matter if it is flavored such as strawberry or blueberry?

I just give them the regular stuff the whole milk stuff havent tried the flavored stuff yet

 

[Back2MyRoots]

I have some yogurt, does it matter if it is flavored such as strawberry or blueberry?

I have given mine flavored and they wolf it down! The reason they tell you plain is because they really don't need the sugar in the flavored stuff. The fruit itself won't hurt them though. Be sure it's regular and not lite---lite=artificial sweetener=very bad for all animals (and people too actually, but that's another story for another day). In the winter, the extra calories from the sugar won't hurt that much, just reduce other treats like scratch a bit. And pick up plain or cottage cheese or sour cream (all are great!) on your next trip to the grocery store.

 

[bobchell]

I never buy plain yogurt so what I have is flavored but I never buy the light stuff, I get migraines and the artificial sweeteners give me a migraine in a heartbeat and I never wanted my kids to have it either so I will NOT be giving that to my chickens for sure. I do have some cottage cheese and sour cream here so will try some of that also. I was reading more about the Oyster Shell and a lot of the places say to just leave it out for chickens to eat as needed so I am not so worried about giving them too much now. Think I will just give them some when I go in like I would the scratch and see if between that and the yogurt/sour cream/cottage cheese if that will all help the shells be thicker. Thank you all so much for the tips

 

[Mygirls20]

Ya I havent read anything yet about chickens overdosing on calcium I hope they cant :/ How old are your chickens?

 

[bobchell]

Ya I havent read anything yet about chickens overdosing on calcium I hope they cant :/ How old are your chickens?

My chickens are just about a year old. Everything I read regarding Oyster Shell said to either put it in there food or give it to them in their coop/run so they can eat it as they want so I am hoping that means not matter what they didn't get too much yesterday. I am just giving it to them like I would scratch now, sometimes mixed in with the scratch. I am going to give them so cottage cheese later or yogurt to help. I did get an egg earlier today and it seemed good, no weak shell.