Is my pekin bantam male or female?

[Rob&Vicky]

I have a question regarding the eggs one of my bantams, Marilyn, is laying.

 

The eggs have mulitple small firm lumps (1-2mm) over one end of the shell. The eggs are slightly mishapen but otherwise have good hard shells and taste fine.

 

She otherwise seems very active and happy. She lays an egg on alternate days. A couple of weeks ago when we first got her she stopped laying for a week but I put this down to the stress of moving.

 

They have layer pellets, grit and ground up eggs shells. They have been wormed and treated in case of lice/mites.

 

I'm not sure if I'm worrying over nothing or is it something I need to investigate further?

 

I'd be very grateful if anyone has any advice.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Are the lumps raised? Could they be calcium deposits?

 

One of my girls lays weird eggs - they're always slightly torpedo shaped but they sometimes have strange ridges round the end too . I shouldn't think it's anything to worry about but if you had a photo it might help the diagnosis!

[frenchlayer]

I read recently somewhere, can't remember where that raised lumps would be calcium deposits, which is too much shell or grit. THey are pigs for it. So that could be the problem. They shouldnt need too much extra shell if they are free ranging.

 

Maybe someone else knows definitively. ON this subject too, I always give my egg shells back to my chickens, washed and crushed beyond recognition, is this ok.

 

A bientot

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I always give my egg shells back to my chickens, washed and crushed beyond recognition, is this ok.

 

I think lots of people give their hens eggshells but I think they bake them in the oven first (not sure why ). I have some baked and crushed in a jar but have never really had soft eggs so haven't bothered using them yet.

 

I always want to start singing "three french hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree" when I see your signature .

[surferdog]

My Bluebelle often has these on her eggs. She is prone to laying softies so my chickens are a bit overloaded with grit and limestone flour at the moment. She's just laid another softie though so no plans to stop it yet.

 

They also scoff all the silver sand in their dustbath - does this count as grit as well?

[Rob&Vicky]

I was concerned that I wasn't giving enough calcium and was planning to add in limestone flour. However, by the sounds of it I might be giving too much.

 

She laid a soft egg 2 days ago but has laid a hard, although lumpy, egg today.

 

Now I'm confused. Am I giving too much or too little calcium

[Ain't Nobody Here]

My girls have mixed poultry grit in a separate pot. I never give them eggshells (although I have some ready), or limestone flour (ditto) and apart from 2 softies a few months ago, they all lay perfectly hard, normal eggs (although Maisie sometimes lays slightly ridgey ones).

 

I'm keeping the extras for when/if they lay softies.

[Hen Watch]

Hi. Take a look at the last picture on the bottom of the page in this Omlet Guide link below.

 

http://www.omlet.co.uk/guide/guide.php?view=Chickens&cat=Eggs&sub=strange

 

I get these raised speckles all the time on some of my eggs. But then I have 1 hen that sometimes lays softies so the whole flock get limestone flour in their feed.

[frenchlayer]

Dear 'Aint "Ooops, word censored!"ody there'

 

lol they are not real french hens you know, only standard (exceptionally pretty of course !) brown hens like the English battery ones.

 

But don't let me stop you singing.