[sunshinemedic]

Hi all,

Thought I'd run this past fellow Chook Keepers.

Natasha, my white star has been laying soft/shellless eggs for 3 weeks now. I've done all the usual tricks: provided loads of oyster shell / crushed baked egg shells, banned treats and kept them on layers pellets/mash. No effect at all. The other girls in the flock are laying fine.

So, any thoughts? It is a shame cos Nat lays my wife's favourite eggs!

[tesni]

I haven't had occasion to use it yet but several threads mention limestone flour - mixed in with a bit of yoghurt and banana it is apparently irresistable  if you search the threads you will find a goldmine of advice
good luck

[sunshinemedic]

Thanks for that tesni!

Must admit that it never occured to me to try limestone flour before, but it does make sense!
I'll give it a go and see what happens 

[henamoured]

Poultry Spice is 24% calcium, and I found it much easier to source.

[PaulineM]

Hi
I had a problem with very thin shells which would break when layed and I made up a mixture of mashed banana, 1/2 teaspoon of limestone flour per bird, capful of cod liver oil and 1/2 tub of bio yoghurt, my 6 girls loved it and within two days mabel's eggs were great. I stopped the limestone flour but about 5 days later I noticed her shell going thin again so I have started with the limestone flour again either in the banana or on apple and the shells immediately improved. I know that yoghurt is dairy and normally this should be avoided but as an instant calcuim boost it is ok. Hope this helps. 

[sunshinemedic]

Poultry Spice is 24% calcium, and I found it much easier to source.

Sadly already tried and failed despite quite a lot of poultry spice.... I wonder if my girls thought they were on a 'Curry' diet all of last week....  :blink:

[Fisherman]

How old is your hen? Perhaps it's coming to towards the end of it's egg laying career or perhaps it's just a seasonal thing with the shorter days!

[joyfull]

If it is just the one hen then try giving her a pinch of limestone flour on a half a grape or bit of sweetcorn for 5-7 days only and see if there is any improvement. No need to give any to the others.

[sunshinemedic]

How old is your hen? Perhaps it's coming to towards the end of it's egg laying career or perhaps it's just a seasonal thing with the shorter days!

She's about 2 years old and I had considered that maybe it is just her system giving out.. but wanted to give it one last try before giving up...

Anyhow, loads of Limestone Flour added to soaked layers pellets today, the girls attacked the feed but Natasha is so Bossy she got the lion's share. Here's hoping....

[Aunt Sally]

Give a a drop of cod liver oil each day for a while too.

[kopperdrake]

With our ex-bats we bought some calcium tablets from over the counter and crushed one tablet into their Saturday mash. Their Saturday mash in a small old dog bowl usually consists of mashed potatoes, a calcium tablet (though eventually this wasn't needed), a teaspoon of codliver oil, poultry spice and a couple of tablespoons of live yoghurt.

Smells absolutely disgusting but they love it. When it's verm-X time they have this Saturday, Sunday and Monday with the pellets added to the top - scrumptious

[joyfull]

If you are giving them verm-x to worm them it won't get rid of an infestation of worms nor will it touch gape worm. You need to give them flubenvet.

[kopperdrake]

Ooh no, the verm-X is just the preventative. I haven't had a case of worms...yet...