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

[iwannachicken]

Tikka our Red star is about 24-25weeks old and has been laying for the last 5weeks but the other night she became very lethargic and started sitting down a lot which just wasn't like her at all and because we are new to this we were very worried.She went to bed and i had a look on the forum for some ideas. The next day we found a softie and a shell less egg so we put her feeling ill down to the softies etc. She then lay a perfect egg 24 hours later but i have been out to check on them and Tikka is starting to look like she did the other day so assume we are going to find a softie tomorrow morning and no good egg from her. What i don't understand is, is this normal where she can lay 1 good egg then the next day a softie or 2? i have just started to worm them just incase this could be the problem but with being new to keeping chooks this is concerning me as she looked so ill.

 

Any advice as to why this is happening and what can i do? They have access to grit etc and i crush there shells into there pellets, they do free range but not until about 2pm.

Thanks for any advice.

[iwannachicken]

O.k, as i suspected i have just gone to let them out today and i have found a good egg in the nesting box which is from Dippa and a shelless egg and a softie in the poop tray which i assume is from Tikka as she was off colour yesterday. (please read previous post)

Can anyone tell me why this is and should i be worried?

Thanks.

[BocBoc]

I'm having similar problems with my girls too - I don't think I'm doing anything wrong but there must be something! Could it be the heat maybe?

[iwannachicken]

I'm having similar problems with my girls too - I don't think I'm doing anything wrong but there must be something! Could it be the heat maybe?

i have just read your post, so i'm not alone. I don't want to say it but if it is the heat, then i'm quite happy for rain and cooler weather as i don't like seeing Tikka like this!

[sjp]

I've had a similar priblem with one of mine but that was weather related coencided with 2 boputs of cold grey weather middle of last month early this month put it down to that chicken needing a higher level of natural vit D

I also made the grit feeder hole bigger mae it easier for them to sort the shell out but I don't put grit or eeg shell in with the feed.

I also give them dried meal worms once or twice a week they contain an ammio acid that helps the body with calcium uptake

[BocBoc]

Hmm - it maybe something in the weather then?

 

Ours have dried mealworms as treats too

[iwannachicken]

Well yet another good egg yesterday from Tikka, then looking poorly last night.This morning in poop tray 2 softies!!! So should receive a good egg again tomorrow.

i just don't understand.?! I must admit before the softies, we were getting double yolkers every other day so something it getting all mixed up.

I hope this isn't distressing her too much!

[iwannachicken]

Just thought i would update everyone on Tikka.

Well we didn't get any egg on Friday but we had 3 good eggs on Saturday!! Which also means Harley has laid her 1st egg so it was a good day all round. 2 eggs on Sunday, 3 eggs Monday,2 eggs Tuesday and then 3 eggs today!!! So no more soft eggs (i hope) but she is laying every other day which i don't mind as long as i don't see those soffties!

Thanks everyone for your advice

[sjp]

long may the good eggs continue