4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[SLK69]

Just wanted to share this with folk that care.

 

I rescued some exbatts 4 weeks ago, with the intention they would be pets that laid a couple of eggs. I researched like crazy, and thought with 5 'spent hens' I'd get 10-14 eggs a week.

 

Now they are settled I never get less than 30 usable eggs a week and this doesn't include the 2 soft ones, I seem to get each week - I don't even like eggs unless they are hidden in a cake! (and I do like to bake) So I am now every ones 'best pal' handing out eggs all over the place. (to all those who thought I was crazy getting chooks for pets)

 

Anyhoo, I have tried everything to ensure all my egg shells are firm

- oyster grit scattered around garden and in pot

- lime flour in feed

- recycled crushed egg shells in the bed time treat (peas)

 

what else can I try to harden shells - not sure who they are coming from, but they all seem perky - the soft eggs seem to be laid at night or v. early?

 

Susie

[Egluntyne]

It sounds as if you are doing all you can.

 

Most hens lay a soft one every so often.

 

I rescued three ex-batts 4 weeks ago. They have each laid an egg every single day since.

 

Remarkable.

[cathybc]

so good to hear your girls are doing so well ! I have 3, and get one from each most days - not enough to satisfy the people at work tho !

[Scooby]

Hi Susie

 

Glad your girls have settled in well. It sounds like you're doing everything right so it must just be one of those things.

 

My four give me three to four eggs daily. So far I've only had one softie and all they get is a handful of grit mixed in with their mash/pellets

 

Best thing I ever did giving those girls a home

[One Man Banned]

I've been having an issue with Margot or Geri laying a soft egg quite regularly of late.

 

I've put lots of grit and things out for them and still it seems to happen. Is it Shellstim that helps sort them out?

 

THe ex-batts we got on Saturday are doing sterling work, an egg a day each, although 1 of yesterdays was laid early in the morning, and in the rush of the Laydees to get out, they stood on it as it was on the roosting bars

 

A

xx

[HENthusiastic]

Glad your girls are doing so well.

Ive had three ex-batts since Saturday and so far I've only had 2 eggs! Hope I'm not doing anything wrong. They started with layers pellets ground up to resemble mash. Now they are on a mixture of pellets and ground pellets. Never mind, they are supposed to be retired! They don't have to work for their living any more.

[SLK69]

I wish they understood more about retirement ! An egg a day is eggcessive ! I worry about the calcium leeching out their bones - I just want to say ' CALM DOWN DEAR' it's not a mad egg producing battery run here.

 

poor wee things - Precious, my top chicken has started sitting for an hour or two on her egg before leaving the nest, I worry about broodiness as they are still way to scrawny to be going without food!

 

Should I lift them off as soon as they have laid? they seem so content sitting on their eggs - or maybe I am just imposing my feelings on them?

 

Susie

[Egluntyne]

Shellstim is no longer available Andrew.

 

Zolcal or Davinova C are similar.