Help requested (from NZ) - Very Soft or no-shell eggs

Greetings from beautiful New Zealand. I need advice - Beatrice, my lovely black leghorn hen (about 2 years old) has over the last couple of months developed very soft shelled eggs and then no shell eggs. Prior to this she would often lay eggs with extra calcium deposits but always a firm shell. She seems well in herself, she is boss of the yard, her chookie friends (we have 7) are all well, they free ranging throughout the day and I feed wheat, commercial layers mash and layers pellets. Can anyone help......I do hope Beatrice has not developed some awful terminal condition - she is my favourite avian friend!!.  

Hi Penny do you give them oyster shell in their diet, there's some in the layers but not enough if they are free ranging. Try a drop of cod liver oil on a bit of bread once a week for extra vitamins to aid calcium absorption.

welcome to the forums btw  

You have all the answers posted above Penny.



More calcium - either crushed oyster shell or limestone flour.  There's quite a lot of calcium in fresh greens too !

Vit D is needed for calcium absorption - cod liver oil - it is also made in the oil of the feathers by the action of sunlight, the hens then preen it off.  It can be a problem in Britain in the winter but possibly not in NZ

Phosphorus and Magnesium is also important for Calcium absorption - A little natural yoghurt will supply this.

No salty foods - inhibits calcium absorption as may sweet foods.

for all this heartening feedback and helpful advice, am on my way to the feed merchant to get oyster grit, and already have on hand calcium powder (usually used when weaning my foals!)
Im so pleased I found this site!