Charlez Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Hi, My Omlet Gingernut has laid soft-shelled eggs since being delivered in September. I've done a lot of reading on the subject but can't find evidence of anyone having the problem for as long as this. My 4 girls free range for most of the day but are kept in the run for at least an hour in the morning to fill up on layers pellets. On advice they receive no treats. I have added limestone flour to the pellets and there is a supply of poultry grit. I have also wormed with Flubenvet in the last couple of weeks. In principle I have no objection to keeping an unproductive hen. However, my partner has different views since I work longer hours and it falls to him to clean the eggy mess up every day from the nest. And inevitably all the girls try their best to eat the sloppy egg which he fears will encourage them to break into the "normal" eggs. Problems reached a head today when he e-mailed me at work and asked me to bring home a "chicken-sized box". Is there anything else I can try before I come home to find that Mrs Brownfellow has been "removed"? Getting the hens has been enormously rewarding and we love them all to bits, but this problem is casting a shadow over the whole enterprise. Any advice much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Oh dear It sounds like you have tried a few things and personally i have found the limestone flour to be really useful but a liquid calcium supplement seems to suit my girls better. It does seem like you little chook needs some extra calcium to help - have you tried a liquid calcium supplement? You could use Shellstim or Davinova C, the latter is available from the Domestic Fowl Trust for a few pounds and works wonders. I really do hope that the 'chicken sized box' isnt needed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Shellstim isn't available any more apparently. You can get limestone flour from equestrian shops, or from Ebay (sold for reptiles). Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 If you've tried limestone flour and grit to no avail, I suppose it's possible that she just has a defective shell gland and she's never going to lay proper eggs - six months of nothing but softies can't be right! If it's causing friction with your other half, I'm not sure what else you can do apart from look for a new home for her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 Given the other girls are laying fine and are on exactly the same diet that would imply the problem is with her, not what you are doing or feeding to them. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 There is a product called **Zolcal D** which is a liquid calcium supplement, plus Vit D3 and magnesium which you add to drinking water. That might do the trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris70 Posted March 24, 2008 Share Posted March 24, 2008 All three of my ex batts have started laying soft shelled eggs, some days I'm lucky and get an intact egg, but it has the thinest shell ever. I spoke to the guy at our local chicken place (Thornes), and he suggested trying them on Growers mash instead and add poultry spice, which I did (it's fine for all the other hens too), and it pretty much solved the problem, only 1 soft shell a week now. Maybe worth a try - espicially as it won't have any ill effects on the others too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...