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

[Jane from Brighton Beach]

Wondering if anyone can help. Lulu is 18 months old, she has been a prolific layer of eggs, every day and most eggs 95g!! For the last three weeks, she has been laying soft shelled eggs, some with no shell and some things that look a bit like a squashed rubber shell, but not really a lash. I posted this before and members advised worming which I've done but its made no difference. She is very well and chirpy, still eating and drinking. The other two are fine and laying good eggs, one each every day. What can I do? I've always mixed oyster shell and grit in their feed and crushed baked shells. I thought she'd just 'run out of eggs' as she stopped laying completely for a few days but now every other day soft or no shelled eggs appear. What can I do? I've looked on the threads for calcium supplements but the other two are fine. What do members advise? Has she just come to the end of her laying life?

[Nature Chick]

Hi there

My hens are about 3 years old and still laying - one has been laying soft shelled eggs which led to her getting an infection (she is still recovering on my kitchen floor!) I am going to try Limestone Flour which you can get from tortoise/turtle suppliers (I got mine from Ebay) you can add it to their food so you make them eat it!! It is worth trying to solve the problem as I have heard of others that have got infections this way.

I hadn't thought that maybe she was reaching the end of her 'laying-life', maybe someone else can advise on this!

[Egluntyne]

A spot of limestone flour is worth trying. It is more absorbable than oyster shell.

 

They do start to have blips in their laying when they get older.

[Jane from Brighton Beach]

thanks for that, where can I get it? Is 18 months old? I thought they went on for 4-5 years?

[Egluntyne]

You can get it at equestrian shops or on Ebay, where it is usually sold for reptiles.

 

18 months isn't old....they do go on for 4-5 years.