Why are my hens egg shells so hard?

[Messipaw]

All my girls are laying nicely, well except for my Broody EE.
Why are the shells of the eggs do hard? Is that ok? Just wondering if I am giving them to much of something. Thank you.

 

[Spikes Chooks]

Are you putting out oyster or shell grit so they can chosen when they want to eat some? If so, I wouldn't worry at all - she is just eating what she feels she needs for the egg shells. If you add it to feed so they all get it regardless, I would change to keeping it out at all times but separate.

Some chickens just seem to metabalise calcium differently. All my 4 girls eat shell grit from time to time when they are laying. The Australorp's shells are always really hard; the RIR about what I'd consider normal; the Silver Campine and Barnevelder vary considerably between quite soft shelled, normal or quite hard. If I get a few too many soft or weak-shelled in a row, I add a bit of liquid calcium to their feed but never more than once every month or so. Only when it seems necessary.

If I were you, I wouldn't worry.

All the best

 

[Messipaw]

Yes I do give them oyster shells and mashed up egg shells as treats. Is that to much.

 

[Spikes Chooks]

I doubt it is too much. If the oyster grit is separate and out all the time, maybe just give them crushed eggs & shells from time to time.

 

[Messipaw]

I usually do oyster shells every Saturday. Lol.
I need to learn how to hard boil them properly to. They are a real pain to peel.

 

[Cindy in PA]

That's the way the shells are supposed to be. It means you have healthy homegrown eggs.