What food should I feed them to make there eggs tougher?

[opps00]

What food should I feed them to make there eggs tougher? My eggs crack so easily. Thanks

 

[Katy]

They need more calcium if their shells are thin. You can feed it free choice in the form of oyster shell. If you're feeding a layer feed, most of them contain calcium already.

 

[thechickenchick]

I have been told you can buy oyster shells for them. I have also read on here that you can crush up egg shells and feed them that. Mine are not laying yet so I can only tell you what I have heard. Sorry! I would be willing to bet though that someone will post soon! Good luck. I am interested in the answer as well.

 

[Dawn419]

Get them some Oyster Shell from the feed store. You can also feed them their egg shells. I rinse them under warm/hot water then bake them at 250 degrees for about 20 - 30 minutes. Let them cool and crush them up so they don't resemble shells any longer.

We keep crushed shells available at all times so the girls can get the extra calcium when they need it.

Hope this helps!

Dawn

 

[HR Patterson]

We have oyster shell out for our chickens all the time, mixed with baked, crushed egg shells. We are also putting apple cider vinegar in their water, yet we still have 2 hens (no idea which ones) that are laying very thin shelled eggs. Often, I collect one that is either crushed a little already or breaks in my hand, and there is evidence of another that has been eaten. I gather them 2-3 times a day so they're only left a few hours at most. Any ideas what else we can do?

Thanks.

 

[d.k]

*Are they getting enough sunshine?? They need their "D", too, to make good shells. You can supplement with crushed or ground Cal. Citrate with "D "added for a bit if there's not enough sun yet. . .

 

[HR Patterson]

Thanks. They get plenty of sunshine; they're outside all day.

 

[gumpsgirl]

Quote:
How much apple cider vinegar do you put in the water?

 

[HR Patterson]

1 quart in 7 gals. of water.

 

[bigdog]

I have an issue with my 2 young RIR laying eggs with shells so thin that they break as soon as you touch them or before. None of my other 10 hens seem to have this problem. I feed layer plus oyster shells. Any ideas?