[Casey76]

OK... need some new thoughts on this...

All 6 of my pullets are now in lay, 4 within the past 3 weeks.  All my birds (2 hens, 6 pullets and a cockerel) have free access to layers pellets between 7am and dusk with grit and oyster shell provided in a separate container at the same time.

As "treats" they get a cup of mixed grains (barley, wheat, cracked corn) between the 9 birds a couple of times a week, and occasionally half a melon.

They free range in my 500sqm garden of which they have access to about 350-400sqm.

Over two weeks I have been getting an increasing number of soft-shelled eggs.  Currently it is almost one a day - though I am still getting 6 "normal" eggs a day.

As the colour of the egg is layed on last, I can't tell who is laying the soft-shelled ones I recognise the eggs from at least 4 of my hens, the other 4 are a bit more difficult as they all started laying at the same time (when I was conveniently on holiday!)

This morning I found an egg with a fragile, but hard, shell in the middle of the garden which has never happened before.

In themselves, the hens are happy, busy doing henny things (digging up my dahlias, moving all the bark chippings from my borders onto my lawn...)  One pullet has a mucky bottom, but there is a lot of fruit on the ground at the moment (plums, mirabelles, my late raspberries (these disappear off the canes  )).  And one pullet keeps her tail straight/down - though she has always done this from being a wee chick, so I think it is just her - she has been investigates for lice and mites and endured (much to her disgust) a nice warm bath.

Any ideas what I could do? I don't really want to put limestone flour in the food as I may overdose the others who don't need it.

ACV with mother is not readily available here (I've looked for it for my horse), though I could put a vitamin tonic into the water for a few days.

Thanks for any opinions

[Roughlee Handled]

How old is the offender?

[funny farm]

Hello Casey,
I too have a problem with one of my Marans she is 26 weeks old, and she sometimes throws a soft shelled, and other days perfect dark brown shelled egg, she has layers also oyster shell good diet all her vitamins dont know why this happens any suggestions has anyone all adivse gratefully recieved,
many thanks,
Marcia   funny farm.

[Casey76]

Ah ha... I knew I would have missed something!

The pullets are 21 weeks old.  I know it is not either of my hens as I know their eggs, and they haven't missed a day in weeks.

[Roughlee Handled]

21 weeks and how long have they been laying for?

[Casey76]

1 has been laying for about 6 weeks (Jelly), 1 has been laying for about 5 weeks (Ginger) and the other 4 have started within the last 3 weeks.

They are all in lay as last Monday I had 8 eggs (6 pullets and 2 hens)

[Roughlee Handled]

Could be that they are still young and bodies getting used to the daily loss of calcuim. Do they have oyster shell to hand?

[Casey76]

They have oyster shell available all day in a different feeder to the layers pellets.

[Roughlee Handled]

You could give the offender a supplement of cat food and see what happens.