Cats and Chickens Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 (edited) After four weeks of patiently waiting I found a soft broken egg in our hen house today. So disappointing. It hadn't been laid in the nesting box but just outside it on the floor of the coop. They all (three of them)sleep in the nesting box unless I put them on the perch manually which I do most evenings but not last night. I'm going out now to see if we can buy some limestone flour. Any other ideas or suggestions welcome. Edited November 3, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 What a shame . You may find that it's just a blip and the next one will be fine . (A tip for the limestone flour - if you use a little cod liver oil on the pellets it helps the powder stick and aids the absorbtion of the calcium.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cats and Chickens Posted November 1, 2009 Author Share Posted November 1, 2009 Thanks for the tip, our local place didn't have any but limestone flour.We bought mineral powder and will try that. I hope you are right that it is just a blip. I will definitely move them all onto the perch tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cats and Chickens Posted November 3, 2009 Author Share Posted November 3, 2009 Had our first lovely proper hard egg this morning and thought that the previoius soft shell was just a blip but alas another soft shell this evening when I checked them. Views of all you experienced folks would help. Is it likely that two of my three girls (both my black stars) are now laying one successfully and one with soft shells? I am pretty sure that my Speckled Star is younger and not ready to lay but the other two may both be laying. Both are red in the face and one has been crouching a bit. Can we eat the softie which we collected this evening? Will this settle down or do I need to be adding more calcium to their diet. The have grit and layers pellets an occasional handful of corn in the evening but less now as they are in bed when we get back. I bought a mineral poultry supplement at the weekend and have sprinkled this on their pellets haven't managed to get to any place that I could buy cod liver oil yet and as their pellets are in a treadle feeder not sure how to administer it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 It may just be that they're getting into the swing of laying. I wouldn't worry unduly unless you keep getting the softies. I bought cod liver oil at Morrisons and I noticed Boots had it too (but it was more expensive ). I add it to the afternoon corn along with the limestone flour. It might gunge up your feeder so I don't know if I'd put it in there (but others may do so successfully!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cats and Chickens Posted November 3, 2009 Author Share Posted November 3, 2009 Well I thought I'd have to go to a farm shop or something! I never even thought of Morrisons I am in there every day. How much do you add? We scatter the corn in the run for them to forage in the afternoon when someone is home in time so we could coat it with little cod liver oil first. Thanks for the advice. The non-soft egg is beautiful by the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 I take a small amount of pellets, add the cod liver oil and limestone flour until its all mixed in, and then I add the "treated" pellets to more pellets, this works well for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fur 'n' Feathers Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 We had a bit of a problem like that wih one of our original hens, but it did prove to be her egg laying gubbins getting into the swing of things. Hold on & see if it sorts out. The advice you've been given should also help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
