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

[txswanie]

Does anyone use liquid calcium? I have been getting a lot of softies lately and feeding the girls back the eggs and the grit with shell doesn't seem to be working. Someone told me not to use liquid calcium as it can cause stones. I am just about to worm them. Could worms be causing the softies? What about excess heat? It has been really hot here.

WIll they get enough calcium from the eggs? I will have to feed them shop bought eggs while the worming is going on.

thanks

Colette.

[Redwing]

Liquid calcium is a bit drastic

 

first try cod liver oil, that helps them actually absorb calcium - mix a little with their pellets

 

If that doesnt work after a while try limestone flour and cod liver oil

 

If none of that works then consider the liquid calcium

[Egluntyne]

The heat could be part of the problem. Hens lose electrolytes and calcium etc when the weather is very hot. ( ie temperatures over 30C), as they pant to lose heat and this causes the loss.

 

I would give them some limestone flour (as sold for reptiles) and a dollop of rough cod liver oil , not the dainty stuff sold at chemists shops.

 

Also. it is better to not allow them to feed during the hottest part of the day, as the digesting of the food will put their body temperature up even further.

 

Making sure that their water is cold, and changing it a couple of times a day if necessary will also keep their body temperature down, and this too, will help slow down the loss of electrolytes and calcium etc.

[txswanie]

Thanks,

The girls seem to do most of their eating in the morning when they wake up, in the heat of the day they are in a hole in the ground under the trees. I installed misters for them and they seem to be panting less.

Does limestone flour have another name? Cant seem to find it outside the UK.

Perhaps being a bit thick here but what is rough cod liver oil?

Colette.

[Egluntyne]

The rough cod liver oil is the sort sold for animals,. I get mine from an equestrian shop. The posh stuff sold in small quantities in chemist shops and supermarkets is way to expensive.

 

Limestone flour is calcium carbonate ground very fine. You will be able to get it in a reptile shop. We can get it on ebay in UK.