The hen is still laying soft shelled eggs

Oliveview · « **on:** July 11, 2007, 09:07 »

It´s been going on now for ages and ages

I´ve tried crushed oyster shell (and crushed it further in the grinder) crushed egg shell, I´ve even got friends coming tomorrow saving their egg shells for me! , layers mash, crushed fresh snails (UGH) and I´ve now bought a white powder, just called white! Don´t think it is cocain!!

The other day I got to the egg before the hens ate it and it was verging on the crispy side of soft but this morning it is back to a really soft shell.

Any further suggestions?
PAmela (in Spain)

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #1 on:** July 11, 2007, 13:51 »

In order to absorb calcium from their digestive system hens need Vitamin D3, I would hardly think that the hens would be short of that in Spain :roll: as it is made in the oils on their feathers by sunlight and the hens takeit in when preening.

You are giving them loads of calcium (the 'white' is probably lime stone flour), so as a last ditch attempt I would add some cod liver oil to their feed for a couple of weeks.

How old are your hens :?:

Oliveview · « **Reply #2 on:** July 16, 2007, 08:47 »

Hi Aunt Sally,
The hens are around 9 months old. I´ll have a hunt for cod liver oil in the shops here, they do not sell vitamins like we get back in the UK!! One hen is laying a mis-shapen egg too, one side is flat!!
Hens!
Pamela (in SPain)

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #3 on:** July 16, 2007, 15:27 »

Don't give them any treats at all. Just their layers and calcium and Vit D extra (just a few drops of cod liver oil onto their layers). Oh... and greens of cause.

Oliveview · « **Reply #4 on:** July 20, 2007, 20:26 »

No luck with the cod liver oil, so will split open some of my capsules and add that to their water!
Wednesdays soft egg looked like it was going almost hard shelled then today it was back to the soft shell again.
At least I am getting 2 eggs a day to eat

not bad out of only 4 hens that are laying

PAmela (in Spain)
ps today they had just grass pulled up from around the garden, they had a great time chucking it about

ssatt44 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 20, 2007, 20:30 »

Just a thought...how hot has it been in your area of Spain? My references say soft shells are more common in hot weather (stress). My girls do that a little in summer.

sharon in arizona

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #6 on:** July 20, 2007, 21:20 »

Quote from: "oliveview"

No luck with the cod liver oil, so will split open some of my capsules and add that to their water!

No... add it to their feed. It's an oil, it won't mix with water

Oliveview · « **Reply #7 on:** July 23, 2007, 09:23 »

good news is the small hens are laying- had a tiny white shelled egg Saturday and Sunday.... no problem with the shells being soft- they were rock hard, had to really bash them to crack the shell

Pamela (in Spain, where it is getting hotter agian)

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