Solitary chicken - need advice

[TheChookKeeper]

Hello all!

 

One of my girls has been laying softies for the last few days - I don't think they are "proper" softies, as they are whole when they come out I think, I believe they are trodden on by the others, and they squish as they aren't very strong.

 

We noticed a couple we had a week or two ago were VERY thin shelled.

 

Anyway - I (almost) always add grit and oyster shell to their feed when I top it up, but was wondering if I might be better off putting the two in little pots for them to munch all the time?

 

Will they eat too much oyster shell, or will they not figure out that eating it is a good idea?

 

Thanks!

[Gamebird]

Hello TheChookKeeper

 

I have a separate pot of grit permanently available. They do seem to know when they need grit which is stored in their gizzard and used to grind their food (chickens cannot chew).

 

I add limestone flour to their layers mash to give them extra calcium which helps with egg shell production. You can buy it from equestrian feed merchants or on-line.

[Hen Watch]

Ditto.

 

Permanent pot of mixed grit in the run plus give Limestone Flour mixed with pellets as I do have one girl who always lays very thin shells.

[Egluntyne]

I agree....best to give them a separate bowl of grit to help themselves ad lib.

 

 

They might want more than you are providing in the feed.

[Jillus]

Where can you buy limestone flour?

[Egluntyne]

Where can you buy limestone flour?

 

 

Equestrian shops....in tubs, or on ebay, as sold for reptiles, in smaller packages.