Sooo much pooping

[Bainbridchick]

Hi,

 

We have had our Eglu and 2 chickens for 2 1/2 years and they both seem healthy and happy. Claire is a 'Lohman Brown' and Jenny is an 'Araucana'. Both have always laid regularly, we feed them layer pellets or/and mash as well as some mixed corn and a few treats such as mealworm.

 

Since they started laying again this year, all of Claires eggs have been broken in the tray whilst Jenny's blue eggs remain intact. We are not sure if the eggs are breaking upon laying (the shells do seem thin) or they are being eaten after laying. We have changed their diet, feeding them just the layer pellets and mash, but to no avail. We have had a look at all of the forum threads but these seem inconclusive. Does anyone have a solution?

 

Thanks in advance

[quickcluck]

Hello!

 

How strange for you. If you feel that the shells are a tad thin can you add in some calcium? You could add limestone flour to the food, I give mine in afternoon mash, make sure you have oyster shell in the grit or get some zolcal for the water.....

 

Is she fine in herself?

[PeckyBeak]

Izzy, my cream legbar had been laying eggs with thin shells, sometimes cracked, sometimes encrusted with lumps of shell material. As all the other Chooks eggs were Ok I have been giving just her, Zolcal on a piece of bread now for a week. Haven't had any thin shells, and encrustment isn't quite as bad. So hopeful that is has worked.

[Bainbridchick]

Many thanks guys.

 

We will give this a try and let you know how we get on

 

Fingers crossed

[Redwing]

I have a breeding group that likes to egg eat (not great since I want some chicks out of their eggs!!)

 

I have started to shut the Eglu door nearly all the way so they only have a gap to squeeze through (you need to be sure the door isnt going to slam shut though) this darkens the inside of the Eglu sufficiently enough to discourage them from eating the eggs - the darker the nest the less likely they are to eat eggs

[Snowy]

Two and a half is a good age for a Lohman, it is likely that her egg quality has just deteriorated with age and her shell gland is getting worn out. You can try calcium supplements like zolcal, davinova or limestone flour, but they may not work. It's probably just age I'm afraid.