Sammy Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Hi All For the last 2 mornings when I open up the house there is an egg at the door on the hen house floor. To me it looks like it has the membrane, is fully formed but doesn't have the outer shell. Is this classed as a "softie" or is a softie a soft shell? I have another thread running where one of my girls Midnight hasn't been well yesterday and doesn't look so well today and I still don't know if these are from her or my Horlicks who is yet to start laying so not sure if these are "practice" eggs. What constitutes a softie? The 2 eggs I found definitely only have the membrane and they don't look like they have been pecked or eaten as at first I thought one or more of them might be eating the shell but they are still too well formed to have been touched by any of them. All my girls have regular access to grit/oyster shell, tonics in their water and poultry spice in their food. I haven't been able to find limestone flour anywhere as yet, so is there an alternative? Could this be Horlicks practice eggs or explains why Midnight is not well and what should I do about it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Yes, that's a softie . I get my limestone flour from Ebay (sold for tortoises). I think some pet shops sell it too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Horse supply shops sell it too. If they are just starting to lay it should right itself as their laying tackle gets into the swing of things. And yes if they are "brewing" a softie they do look very unhappy sometimes........hunched up & not their usually dappy scratchy selves. Usually once they've laid the softie they perk up again quite quickly...........if they lay it out in the open, the other girls will demolish it before you get to it, sometimes mine have been known to follow the softie layer & snaffle the egg before it's even landed on the ground Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammy Posted September 10, 2009 Author Share Posted September 10, 2009 I just called my local Scats and they sell it but the feeding instructions relate only to horses. How much do I give my girls and for long? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Mine have it all the time as I've got batties and a hybrids who throw out softies intermittently...I just throw a couple of scoops in with the bucket (used to have fat balls in for the wild birds to give you an idea of the size) of pellets and now a slug of cod liver oil as that helps the hens absorb the calcium, along with the bokashi and garlic powder to reduce the smell of the poos Then give it all a good shake about & serve All highly technical you see Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Definitely a softie and most likely the cause of Midnight's problems. Limestone flour or a soluble calcium supplement such as Zolcal D will help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 Im getting softies fairly regularly, I've narrowed it down to 2 or 3 of my girls. If i put limestone flour in the food its fine for the rest of them isnt it? Is it a couple of scoops to around 2kg of food, approx? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
