Menopausal chooks?

Towniechooks · « **on:** August 13, 2007, 10:54 »

I have two 2-year old hens and one of them has recently been passing eggs with very thin shells, sometime the pointy end of the egg is not completely covered. :? Both have been losing feathers in the last 3 weeks and sitting down outside a lot in the pen, although both still eating well, and now neither have laid for the last 4 days - which is unheard of since we've had them! Is this the end of the road as far as egg production is concerned? :cry:

muntjac · « **Reply #1 on:** August 13, 2007, 11:17 »

they need calcium and quick . get some oestra ( oyster shell) from your supplier and put it in a blender with a little water and then blitz it for a minute only . then mix this with the food .if you feed layers pellets put them in the blender and blitz them down now mix this with the oestra soup and add a few whole layers pellets .if you use mash then just mix as normal .....

Towniechooks · « **Reply #2 on:** August 13, 2007, 11:24 »

I have been adding poultry grit to their pellets since we've had them - maybe they need more 'cos they're getting older!

I'll load them up tonight and see if they improve. Thanks!

muntjac · « **Reply #3 on:** August 13, 2007, 11:25 »

poultry grit is not calcium ,its just grit they need it to grind the food , oestra ( oyster shell)is calcium they need it to make egg shell and keep fit ...

muntjac · « **Reply #4 on:** August 13, 2007, 11:26 »

lack of calcium causes rickets in children ..................... :cry:

Towniechooks · « **Reply #5 on:** August 13, 2007, 11:45 »

Sorry - I wasn't being clear. The grit I give them already contains oystershell so I assumed they would get enough from adding that to their pellets. I'll contact the feed suppliers and see whether they just do oystershell on it's own.

muntjac · « **Reply #6 on:** August 13, 2007, 12:11 »

okey dokes

muntjac · « **Reply #7 on:** August 13, 2007, 12:35 »

welcome to the site townie chooks dint notice you just joined our merry throng x for the lady ....... deep voice hiys for a guy

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #8 on:** August 13, 2007, 17:26 »

When you buy mixed poultry grit it often contains crushed cockle shell (it looks ridged rather than flat). I remember you telling us Munty that it is not much use for calcium as it is nit easily disolved in the chooks tumm.

Ever since then I have added crushed oyster shell to the grit just to make sure :!:

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #9 on:** August 13, 2007, 17:28 »

PS.One of the big problems with poor shells is the risk of breakage or leakage inside the hen which can set up fatal a infection.

muntjac · « **Reply #10 on:** August 14, 2007, 11:28 »

thats correct sally .. pet shops just sell it and dont have the knowledge to advise about the proper husbandry for chickens . when you go to pet shops and ask for grit .they are thinking its for pigeons .i dont buy grit i go to my local beach n we have piles of it washed up into groynes i then bring this home wash it then boil it . i sieve it and then just throw it down in a feeder the birds had acces to .10 lbs or more in the pens in a cut of plastic drum with a few holes in the bottom to allow water to drain.

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