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

[Minnie&Moose]

We've had our Pepperpot for nearly 2.5 years. She's still laying regularly though not as often as before (4-5 eggs/week), and the eggs are still big (76g and more), the whites are great but the shells are thin so easily broken when the other hens stomp around in the nest box (we have 2 who sound like the cat in his litter tray when they're in the nest box ). I have limestone flour I could add to their pellets but will this be a problem for the younger hens who all lay rock hard shells? Alternatively I suppose I could give Moose ( ) a special dose of pellet porridge topped with limestone flour every couple of days? Any advice most welcome.

[Daphne]

I dimly remember reading that excess calcium in birds can be deposited on joints so maybe you're right to be cautious about giving the whole flock extra (although I don't know what quantities we'd have to be talking to make this sort of difference). I have an old girl with thin shells but she also has problems absorbing the calcium (you get calcium deposits on the shell as well - small lumps at the end). It doesn't seem to bother her (or me) but if I remember I give her bread soaked in cod liver oil (to help the absorbtion) and dipped in flour. If I was doing flour only I'd give it on a grape or some other treat; I can't see the others allowing her to eat a special bowl of pellets all to herself! But really I'd say its up to you - whatever is easiest to organise.

[littlehenny]

I routinely add a bit of limestone flour to their pellets, along with grit and a bit of chicken spice. I mix it all in and all four of mine eat it without any apparent problems. My 2.5 yr old was laying thin shells but this sorted her out

[igobarefoot]

My henny penny was laying a lot of softies recently. I followed advice and cut out all treats (bread, pasta, weetabix), started adding limestone flour to their pellet porridge, as well as a good dollop of cod liver oil. I've given this to all of them, despite only henny penny having the softie problem - vet told me that any calcium chooks don't need they just expel from their bodies naturally

 

Fingers crossed it all seems to be working.........

[Minnie&Moose]

Thanks for the replies. Just to be on the safe side I've decided to just give the limestone flour to Moose so I brought her in for her 'special' breakfast this morning - she had a blast rampaging around the kitchen, sticking her beak into everything, including the cat's breakfast Max the cat nearly left home in disgust - not only did he have to defend his breakfast against a marauding chicken, but then she refused to let him try hers He's not going to be pleased when she joins him for breakfast again in a couple of days

[Christian]

It might be worth adding a small amount of cod liver oil to her feed, as that helps with calcium absorption.

[Minnie&Moose]

Thanks for the tip re cod liver oil Christian - I'll try that.

[Chucky Mama]

I give a liquid supplement in drinking water (Zolcal D) when mine lay softies. I stop it when the resulting egg shells start to show obvious calcium speckling on the shells. Reducing treats can help improve shell quality. Make sure that they are eating plenty of pellets or mash and restrict free ranging for a short while to see if that helps.

[HappyhenSG]

My girls have started laying softies more frequently of late - I've had them since Nov 2008 and Aug/Sept 2009.

 

They have ex bat layers pellets and Verm X Feed-well every day, along with sweetcorn and grapes or mealworms in the afternoon as treats. Also occasionally broccoli. They free-range every day (I've reduced the length of time after reading another thread on a similar matter), and have access to oyster shell and grit.

 

I haven't found any local suppliers of Shellstim or Zolcal as suggested in some other posts but did find some 'Calci-dust' in the reptile section in Pets @ Home.

It's described as a 'pure natural calcium compound feed material' and it's finely ground so it sticks to all food and is easily digestible - composition is Calcium carbonate 400g per kilo.

 

My question, before I break the seal, is do you think this will help the girls produce harder/thicker shells and also will it be ok to give them and not do them any harm?

 

Hope someone can help - thanks.

[Egluntyne]

It sounds as if it is exactly the same as limestone flour.

[HappyhenSG]

I should also have asked what quantities and how often do you use it?

[Minnie&Moose]

Thanks for your help folks - the limestone flour seems to have done the trick - Moose is now laying more frequently again (we've had 6 eggs this last week, all 75g or more, and the shells are as good as when she first started. The vet also confirmed that it was fine to add the limestone to the general feed and that it shouldn't cause problems for the other birds (who are all in lay).

[sandyhas3chucks]

- vet told me that any calcium chooks don't need they just expel from their bodies naturally

 

.........

yes mine too... such a lot of conflicting advice even from the professionals