1. Inheritance/genetics 2. Lack of sufficient calcium, phosphorus, manganese or vitamin D3 3. Vitamin D2 mistakenly substituted for D3 4. Excess phosphorus consumption, especially by older hens 5. Ingestion of sulfanilamide (sulfa drugs) 6. Disease: Newcastle disease, infectious bronchitis, avian influenza, Egg Drop Syndrome 76 7. Hens exposed to temperature over 85-90°F 8. Age of hens: incidence higher with older hens 9. Premature laying of the egg University of Florida Extension http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/PS020#TABLE_2
Quote:Thankyou, coopist! Now all I have to do is figure out which applies. 1. Hatchery chicks-no clue on the genetics. 2, 3, 4. Get fed a complete layer ration with treats limited so I think I can rule these out. 5. I haven't treated them with anything and they are in their coop and run so they couldn't have gotten into anything. 6. Not familiar with all these diseases so I'll have to brush up on them. 7. We have trouble getting temps in the 70's. 8. Their just one year old. May 16th! 9. It would have to apply to the majority on a regular basis. I doubt it.
Have you tried mixing a little egg-shell or oyster shell into their food? My hens will lay porous shells every now and then, but I just beef up their calcium and it seems to take care of the issue... -Kim
I feed back the egg shells. Maybe I will have to see about getting some Ostershells too. Their shells are nice and thick and strong. Mom has told me to quit feeding whatever I'm feeding that makes them so hard to crack!
I occasionally have porus shells with my girls too. I have found it's the all natural, non-gmo feed I get from the Amish. It doesn't have enough calcium and I have to supplement a bit of ground oyster shell with their feed.
