quickcluck Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 This has been going on for a while now.... not sure who the culprits are We've been adding limestone flour everyday for a good few weeks and zolcal intermitantly. But we are getting in excess of 6 a week and they are layed on the roosting bars not the nesting box which makes me think it's a night time thing. The orginal girls are coming up 2yrs old I suppose, do you think it's a age thing? Any advice gratefully recieved Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 I've just come to accept that Maisie will just lay softies now . And Milly never lays. And Molly lays an egg a week if we're lucky . Thank goodness for Poppy and Penny . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scramble Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 I'd recommend limestone flour and zolcal but I can see you've already tired that Maybe just increase the oyster shell you give them. I did read something somewhere that there is a disease that causes softies (can't remember what it's called) it doesn't harm the bird but does something to prevent them forming egg shells. However after a moult they can go back to laying again once their tackle has had a rest. Something along those lines anyway. Hope that helps and it's sorted soon. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 try cod liver oil a couple of times a week mixed in with they're feed and Naff life guard in the water this needs to be used for about a week dried meal worms are good to but don't over do them as they are fattening you might also need to think about changing feed brands to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted November 23, 2009 Author Share Posted November 23, 2009 Blimey SJP, funny you should say that. We are on Fancy Feeds at the moment and have been for the last few months. Am trying to rack my brains thinking what they were like before...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfrock Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 we are experiencing the same problem. Have been for weeks now. Everyday, almost without fail, there is a shell-less egg beneath the bars. Some of my girls are approaching 3, some are moulting very heavily and some are pure breeds. Out of 11 girls I am lucky to get 1 or 2 edible eggs a day. They have Lifeguard everyday and have done over a year. They have been having limestone flour in their feed, have constant access to oyster-shell, are on Marriages and I am regularly giving them 7 day doses of Shellstim, but alas things remain the same. Some of the shelled eggs are extremely fragile as well. I can only think it is old age setting in. I did panic one day when I found 3 softies beneath the bars and then realised it was 48 hours after fireworks night! It does seem that more and more of us are having this problem though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 Blimey SJP, funny you should say that. We are on Fancy Feeds at the moment and have been for the last few months. Am trying to rack my brains thinking what they were like before...... mine started on a fairly good feed but big red was laying far to many sofies and doubles for my liking I'd tried all of the afore mentioned remiedes with a degree of sucess so coupled with the fact the price had gone up I swapped to a cheaper brand which has seemed to coinsided with quite a reduction in softies and doubles but food consumption went up so that I've been useing a bag in about half the time so I've swaped to Garvo. so I'll give that a go for 2 or 3 bags to see if feed consumption goes down and shell quality goes up I should add that eventhrough Big Red's doesn't lay anywhere near as many softies on the cheaper feed Cyclones shell quality has suffered she used to lay armour plated eggs but I noted that her shells are getting thinnerwhich was another reason for the swap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Tilytinkle Posted November 27, 2009 Share Posted November 27, 2009 You know, I wonder if its the weather, & maybe the way it affects the feed maybe its too cold & becoming damp . .. our shells are the same yet the quality of food is the usual purchased. Bless them MsTilycollectedatinylittleeggtodayaaawsooocute,toosmalltoeat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 the connection with weather would be sunlight. Sunlight is needed for production in us all for vit D£ which in turn Is needed for the body to utilise calcium D3 in CLO and phospherous also in Nutrabol (a powder). baked crushed egg shells if you have ANY fed back the girls. Mine absoloutly love a scoff loads o the FINE crushed oyster shell, which I leave in coop cups all the time. Only one goirl doesn't (my softee girl!)(coincidence ?maybe coupled with age for sure!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted November 29, 2009 Author Share Posted November 29, 2009 I put extra oyster shell in this week, but they've ignored it so far!!! Maybe the bits are too big??? i do give CLO maybe i'll up that a bit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 not too much CLO if you are eating the eggs yes I speak from experience It is the fine very fine oyster shell mine seem to love. you can buy it in small amounts "just to see" if they want that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Have you tried limestone flour with the cod liver oil? Or how about a soluble calcium and Vit D treatment, such as Zolcal D? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted December 1, 2009 Author Share Posted December 1, 2009 This week we've finished the last of the Zolcal, so will wait and see if that helps. I do put Limestone flour in their afternoon mash..... maybe I should put it in their pellets also for a while.. Can you over dose on it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
