Chick99 Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 Hello I was cleaning out my chicken house today and found this (below) in with the poo. What is it and are my girls unwell. Sorry if its a little gross but I am a little worried about them. A little history, I have had them coming up to 2 weeks, there are 8 all together and they are at POL and so far I have had 2 eggs (1 a few days ago and 1 this morning). 4 of the 8 are looking like they are ready to start laying (combs bigger than the others and very red). If someone can tell me if they are ok I will be able to relax. Thank you Chick99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgies Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 You've got a soft shelled egg there Chick. Sometimes as they come into lay, they do these. Makes sure your girls have plenty of calcium (preferably limestone flour or ground up cuttle fish bone if possible). This will help them form strong shells. Laying a softie does make a hen feel poorly, so keep a close eye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 Don't panic . It looks like a softie to me which is just an egg with no hard shell. (I'm assuming there's no hard rubbery bits - if there are, that might be a lash, which is something which gets expelled periodically but is nothing to worry about). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick99 Posted April 30, 2009 Author Share Posted April 30, 2009 Blimey, that is a relief. My other half said maybe they have been making sausages (looks like a sausage skin) in the night (not helpful when you are being a worried mother hen). I sat with my girls for ages with raisins as a treat to see if they are ok. One was acting a bit off and kept scratching about in the nest boxes then come out then go in again. Maybe she has PMT! Thank you all soooooo much. Also, when should I worm them or is there something more natural I could use. I have been putting a drop of Grapefruit Seed Extracts into their water as a preventative. Is this enough? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 Calcium is what they need! So as Budgies says, lime stone flour is good. Has their grit got bits of shell in it? As that really helps too. And someone I think said on here once that Spinach is good, as has lots of calcium in. Have never looked it up to check, but a bag of spinach often ends up in the shopping basket and they do love it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick99 Posted April 30, 2009 Author Share Posted April 30, 2009 They has access to grit all day but it looks hardly touched. I went out and checked after the last post and there are shell bits in there. How do I get them to eat more? SHould I mix in with their food? If I got Lime Stone Flour (what is that anyway??) what do I do with it? Sorry to ask so many questions, the books don't tell you these sorts of thing. Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 You can get limestone flour from Ebay or from a pet shop - it's used for tortoises and the like . (It's pretty cheap!) I wouldn't worry about them not seeming to eat the grit - they'll know when they need it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 oooh Daisy last night was sat in the nesting box and I thought she was trying to lay a late night egg but at bed time there was nothing there. This morning there was a soft egg in the poo tray. Will buy her some limestone flour tomorrow! thanks Kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 Sounds like they're coming in to lay, if they're a bit off it could be because of the softie, makes them feel a bit crook - should pick up once it's laid. And in and out of the nest - exciting times ahead then! You'd be amazed at what comes out of a hens bottom! And it ALL gets pictured, posted and discussed on here (they never tell you THAT when you're thinking of buying hens ) BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
