Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[koo2cat]

Hi There, wonder if any of you good chicken lovers can help?

 

Our Gingernut Ranger, Betty has been laying soft shelled eggs pretty much all winter! Sometimes it makes her appear uwell and we bring her inside in the warm, she lays a softie and then she perks up again. Other times she just lays them and it doesn't seem to affect her at all. I don't think she has laid a proper egg for months now and therefore I am wondering what to do.

 

She is 2 years old, has access to plenty of grit, layers pellets etc. Is it her age? Or could something else be causing this, maybe the continual freezing cold weather?

 

Any advice greatfully received!

[sandyhas3chucks]

you could try a variety of things.

Limestone flour and codliver oil added to food.

oyster shell, as apposed to plain mixed grit.

Nutrabol, a powder.

ZolcalD a liquid.

 

I have one the same despite everthing I give her but HTH

good luck x

[Redwing]

There is a theory that too much calcium causes as many problems as not enough, try scaling up the calcium adding one product at a time starting with limestone flour as Sandy suggests but if you get no luck try turning the whole situation on its head and trying no added calcium and see if that improves matters (for example give the type of grit that has no added shell)

[Chucky Mama]

You could try cutting out treats if she is having a lot of them and sticking to pellets & perhaps a supplement like Zolcal or limestone flour.

[koo2cat]

Thanks for your advice everyone, much appreciated! I will do as you all suggest and see how that goes. She is such a sweet, placid girl and up till this winter has been a brilliant layer. Hopefully the things you suggest will sort her out and can I just say roll on Spring!!!!!!

[sandyhas3chucks]

didn't think it might read that I was suggesting ALL at once! Meant just to offer alternatives, just as well there are lots of us to keep things straight

[Redwing]

didn't think it might read that I was suggesting ALL at once! Meant just to offer alternatives, just as well there are lots of us to keep things straight

 

She'll not be able to move from the calcium overload they'll be eggs popping out all over the place

 

Dont worry I read that as unwritten (so to speak..) thats why I said adding one product at a time as Sandy suggested

[Tutti Frutti]

More options! What about an ex-batt feed? Lots of nutrients and mine love it

 

I had the one of my ex-barn girls laying softies (posted in the Egg section) and was advised to add a little cod liver oil to their pellets, as it aids absorption of calcium.

[sandyhas3chucks]

there's a bit of a glitch there though with some finding they were chucking out softees on the ex bat food, when previosly not, and fine whenswitched back,

an odd one I know.