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

[Busybird]

Up until this weekend we were getting 3 delicious eggs almost every day. On Sunday we found 2 softies (the first we have ever had) in the poop tray. As our eggs always get left in the nesting box we suspected an overnight fright. However, later in the afternoon Hazel started looking poorly. Yesterday she spent a lot of time just standing around, tail feathers down, all bunched up like a sad looking feathery ball. I was concerned that she would not make it through the night. This morning she looks fine and there is another softie in the poop tray. We had one normal egg on Sunday, one yesterday and two today so her friends seem fine.

 

I feed the chickens layers pellets (always available) and give a few kitchen s"Ooops, word censored!"s with a scoop of bokashi bran in the afternoon. Once a week I add a scoop of garlic powder, their own baked and crushed eggshells and poultry spice to the s"Ooops, word censored!"s. A small feeder of chicken grit is always available in the run. They free range for several hours every day.

 

My question is this, are the softies likely to continue? Reading this forum I seem to be feeding them okay so why has it happened?

 

Any advice gratefully received

[Egluntyne]

Sometimes they need extra Vit D to help absorb the calcium. Why not give them a dollop of cod liver oil in their pellets once a week.....or you could try a calcium and Vit D supplement such as ZolcalD.

[Busybird]

Thanks Egluntine, we have cod liver oil in the house so I shall add a spoonful of that to their feed. It is so distressing watching a poorly chicken