[Debsie]

My girls are fed on layers mash, they have free access to this. There is a grit hopper in the run with mixed grit. They get greens and corn in the afternoon. Most weekends and early evenings in the week they are out free-ranging in the garden. I noticed a few days ago that one or more of them had passed some poo that appeared to have a lot of grit in it!!! Then yesterday one of them had laid in the run,  a pale egg with an slmost chalky roughish shell. Then today one has laid a slightly misshapen egg with an almost translusent shell. I don't know if its the same hen laying both eggs. They all seem happy enough eating and drinking with most poo's "normal"

[joyfull]

chickens only use the grit to help grind up their food so will only eat a little bit every now and then (which is kept in their crop until it wears away and then they replace it) however they also need a form of calcium (usually given in the form of crushed oyster shells) to help with the shell formation.

[Debsie]

in the mixed grit there is already oyster shell mixed in, do I need to give more?

[joyfull]

they will only eat the amount they usually need. What breed and how old are your birds as this can have an effect?

[Debsie]

they are hybrids and about 11 months old now.

[joyfull]

In which case I would cut out the treats (except for a little few dark leafy greens) and worm them (if you haven't already done so within the last 3 months). Whilst you are worming them restrict their movements by keeping them in their run for the week and hopefully this should help improve their shell quality. There is the odd time when a hen cannot absorb enough calcium but that isn't common.

[Debsie]

ok thanks, was thinking I prob need to worm again around now. What about grit in the poo, do I need to worry about that?

[8doubles]

The grit only grinds up the food well when it is rough and sharp, when it gets worn to the mini pebble stage they replace it with new grit.
Nothing to worry about.