Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[Eggie232]

I've had my 3 ex-batts for 2 months now and Margot and Belina have always laid perfect eggs from the start. Dora has laid softies from day one. However in recent weeks Margot and Belina have also started laying softies and I can't work out why? Physically they are looking great with lots of new shiny feathers sprouting from everywhere. But instead of lovely hard shelled eggs, now they are all plagued by softies nearly everyday and its awful to see them straining and looking really lethargic. They also seem to get 'backed-up', poor Belina popped out two softies this morning!

 

There diet consists of: Smallholder Ex-Batt pellets (with an occasional sprinkling of poultry spice), mixed grit, ACV in their water (3 days on, 3 days off) and for an evening treat grapes, cherries or mixed organic corn.

 

Is there anything else I can give them to end our softy nightmare? Thanks peeps x

[Clur]

Are they getting enough calcium? Perhaps try baking eggshells for a few minutes in the oven, crush them and feed them back to the hens. You can also get limestone flour to add to their food which should all help

[Eggie232]

Thanks Clur. Yes, I regularly bake their eggshells (the few that I have now) and mix them in with their grit or sometimes directly into their feed. The Smallholder Ex-Batt feed apparently has a high calcium content as its specially designed for ex-batts. I bought a huge tub of limestone flour a few days ago and will try adding this to their feed. Any idea of the quantity?

Thanks E x

[skye]

Sorry to hear about your softies. We use Davinova C available from various chicken websites, which is a calcium supplement which you add to their water. We found it more effective than limestone flour although we do still use that. We also stop all treats/free ranging until the eggshell quality gets better.

 

Hope your girls feel better soon. I know how miserable it is watching them suffer

 

skye x

[Clur]

Thanks Clur. Yes, I regularly bake their eggshells (the few that I have now) and mix them in with their grit or sometimes directly into their feed. The Smallholder Ex-Batt feed apparently has a high calcium content as its specially designed for ex-batts. I bought a huge tub of limestone flour a few days ago and will try adding this to their feed. Any idea of the quantity?

Thanks E x

 

I normally stick a tablespoon or two in the grub. I add animal grade cod-liver oil to help it all stick. Hope it gets better soon!

[Eggie232]

Have popped a teaspoon of limestone flour in with their food this morning. Will let you know how they get on. Had two more softies this evening! Grumble!

[Egluntyne]

Add some cod liver oil to their pellets. It contains Vit D3 which will help with the uptake of the calcium.

 

I would also cut out all treats.

[sandyhas3chucks]

I have tried all sorts with my ex bats,

though wouldn't have thought there was any shortage of D3 with all this sunshine we have been having.

Sadly though their whole systems are depleted before you start, so maybe it would help

I have had some very pleasing results with calcivet from the bird care company, It is good as you can dose individually (by body weight) and add it to their treats.

There seems to be a line of thought that chelated vitamins and minerals in water are more "usable" and absorbed better by all species.

I have read a lot of people realy rate this company and the products they sell, and have an excellent helpline too.