[janiejakemum]

Hi

I dont know if anyone can give me any help...... I am asking on behalf of my dad, he's had his chickens (10) for probably about a year now, he got them at POL and they all seem happy and healthy.

The problem is that some of the eggs have very thin shells and the white is very runny (watery), initially i thought that maybe he should give them more calcium but i dont know if thats right or how to go about it so thought id ask here.  He currently feeds them layers pelletts and kitchen scraps.  They have access to grit/shells.

The only other thing i suppose is the fact that they have never been wormed - is this likely to be a problem?

Thanks for any advice

Em

[janiejakemum]

Thought i'd bump this back to the top.

[Kate and her Ducks]

I've had some completely soft shelled eggs even with limestone flour (which generally helps) but the contents have always been fine so I don't really know what to suggest.

If they have never been wormed it probably makes sense to do that regardless although I suspect that this is not the reason. Most of here use Flubenvet which kills pretty much all the worm nasties and there is not an egg withdrawal period. There are herbal options like VermX but these are more of a preventative measure and do not sort out and established infestation.

[caralouise1974]

Thin or mis-shapen shells, accompanied by watery whites, are classic symptoms of Infectious Bronchitis. I know, as our bluebelle was (wrongly) diagnosed with it a month or so ago and I did my homework!

It is a pretty harmless disease, which runs it's course (about six weeks of mild to moderate respiratory symptoms and poor egg production) and cannot be treated, as it is a virus, but once a hen has had it once, she'll be immune for life. The only complications are that she might be more susceptible to e-coli or mycoplasma while infected with IB (so keep a close eye out for symptoms - both of these are easily treated with either anti- or pro- biotics), and she might get the usual complications if one of the thin or soft shelled eggs were to break inside her or made her eggbound.

Mortality rate is almost zero with IB, but it is pretty much 100% infectious within a flock, so every single bird will get it once its in the coop.

It may be a simple case of calcium deficiency though, so don't take my word for it. IB is just a possibility you might want to consider, especially with the classic symptom of watery egg whites.

[janiejakemum]

Thank you i'll pass on your comments.

If it is simple calcium deficiency what should he do?, They currently have access to separate grit and oyster shell.  Is there a suppliment he should look for or is there a way of getting them to eat more of the oyster shells?

[Roughlee Handled]

Firstly if you chicken has IB (infectious-bronchitis)
Signs

    * Depression.
    * Huddling.
    * Loss of appetite.
    * Coughing, gasping, dyspnoea.
    * Wet litter.
    * Diarrhoea.
    * Diuresis.

Found here http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/78/infectious-bronchitis-ib

There is a vaccine
http://www.infectious-bronchitis.com/

Other information
http://www.ruleworks.co.uk/poultry/Infectious-Bronchitis.htm

Mortality can be high "depending on secondary infections"

It may be a simple case of calcium deficiency though,

Which is true and where I would start.

[GrannieAnnie]

older hens can also lay thin mis-shapen shells with watery whites, but if he got his chickens at POL, then they won't be that old after a year unless they were ex batts?

[caralouise1974]

Firstly if you chicken has IB (infectious-bronchitis)
Signs

    * Depression.
    * Huddling.
    * Loss of appetite.
    * Coughing, gasping, dyspnoea.
    * Wet litter.
    * Diarrhoea.
    * Diuresis.

Found here http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/78/infectious-bronchitis-ib

There is a vaccine
http://www.infectious-bronchitis.com/

Other information
http://www.ruleworks.co.uk/poultry/Infectious-Bronchitis.htm

Actually, there is a strain of IB which does not have any respiratory symptoms, only issues with egg laying and quality, which is what our vet thought our bluebelle had been suffering with. It is apparently becoming ever more common in small backyard flocks.


Mortality can be high "depending on secondary infections"

Which is a different way of saying what I already said about being vigilant for secondary infections like mycoplasma and e-coli, which can be serious for the bird if untreated. The IB by itself is very rarely too serious.

It may be a simple case of calcium deficiency though,

Which is true and where I would start.

Indeed, I was just adding my two-penneth worth from our extensive experience over several months of expensive veterinary care and investigations with our hen, who had exactly the same, but much more severe, egg laying issues. The 'watery albumen' symptom sounded too indicative of IB for me not to make mention of it as a possibility.

Jeez. 

[Foxy]

Hello Janiejakemum!

I answer to your questions, firstly worming, that would be a good idea this time of year particulary if they free-range and have not been wormed so far. It is not unusual for chickens to have a low worm load, problems arise when the the worm load gets to high and interferes with their digestive system and therefore general health. Flubenvent is a good wormer and is reccommended by vets and available over the internet without a prescription.
What sort of hens does your father keep? Hybrids or pure breeds? Hybrids lay prolifically through their first year and laying is reduced through their second season. This can lead to a natural depletion in calcium. Most proprietry feed is designed to provide a balance  of nutrients, including calcium and protein specifically for laying hens. If the hens are having a lot of treats they may not be having enough of the essential minerals from their feed, so the first thing to do is make sure they have their pellets/mash first thing, maybe cut out mixed corn/bread etc. Second a good quality oyster shell and grit should be available ad-lib. To give them a little calcium boost try and add a little limestone powder to their feed plus a teaspoon of cod-liver oil to aid the absorption of calcuim. Another good supplement to aid digestion is Apple Cider Vinegar (25ml per litre)this also helps boost absorption of nutrients from the gut and their is evidence that is acts as a deterent to intestinal worms.
Both Limestone powder and ACV are usually available cheaply from horsey places or feed stores. Improvement in eggshell quality should be seen in a few weeks.
A footnote: it is highly unlikey if your fathers' birds are hybrids to have contracted IB as most commercial hatcheries employ an intensive vaccination schedule.
Hope this helps! and keep us posted!

[janiejakemum]

Thank you every one for your comments, in answer to a few points:

As far as i am aware the hens are all very healthy there are no birds that are "off colour" or quiet in any way. 

I am always telling him not to over feed on the yummier things so maybe thats partly to blame.

They do not have access to grass they have a large run but it has no grass in it.

He has 10 hybrids.

I will suggest to him to get the suppliments suggested and maybe worm them too, he did ask me if he should get a better quality pellett for them to eat.  Do the better quality ones tend to come with the suppliments added or is he better off just adding them when he wishes to?