heidimax Posted September 25, 2010 Share Posted September 25, 2010 Hi all, just looking for some advice. I'm quite new to chicken keeping but about 2 months ago got a leghorn and a barnevelder. I'm not sure of their ages but i think they're young enough - the leghorn lays every single day (large white egg) but the barnevelder laid a small brown egg (is it normal for the eggs to be so small considering her ample size?!) every second day for about two weeks , then stopped and has not laid since. Is this normal?. She appears completely healthy. Just on a separate issue (while i'm at it!), i have 3 ex-batts who despite getting absolutely everything possible for them, are still (on occasion) laying totally soft eggs. I have gotten them calcium powder, oyster shell grit, yoghurt, limestone grit and most recently the vet gave me a liquid calcium and vit D preparation which i give them by mouth every evening. One of the hens is now laying ok(ish), one doesn't lay at all, and the other still lays soft eggs - she has had egg yolk peritonitis twice and a really bad prolapse (which thankfully went back in after about 5 days) - poor thing has been through the mills. So just checking with all the experienced chicken keepers out there if anyone can give me any further advice? Thanks so much in advance for any advice / experience at all (I have the ex-batts since last april and just got the leghorn and barnevelder so i'd get some eggs!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted September 26, 2010 Share Posted September 26, 2010 Could they be egg eating? They will eat the shells too. Have they been wormed recenty? Could an intruder be stealing eggs? Maybe your ex batts are just towards the end of egg laying. Have you tried adding some cod liver oil to their food? I've heard that helps with the absorption of calcium. Hope you get some decent eggs soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heidimax Posted September 28, 2010 Author Share Posted September 28, 2010 Hiya, thanks for reply, One of my exbatts was eggeating but her shells have hardened up so that has stopped. I have eglus so nothing can steal the eggs...on cleaning the coop , i have often found eggs that look exactly like fried eggs (ie no shells) so one is definitely laying with no shell. Also i have wormed them all recently so it's not that either. I'll try the codliver oil though - thanks. I'd rather the poor things didn't lay at all than get sick and get prolapse etc trying to lay their soft eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 Egg laying abilites are dictated my genetics. If you have fowl from a line that has been bred for other purposes than egg laying, you may find the size, quantity and number of eggs will be disappointing. All our traditional breeds were originally bred for their utlity purposes, but often (though not always) "show standards" take over. When choosing stock ask about productivity if it is something which interests you, rather than just their looks and feather colours. Ex - production hybrids are just that. They are sold on when their egg laying peak has past, probably when just approaching their first moult. Because commercial egg producers are only interested in the first egg laying flush these hybrids are not specifically bred to live for a long time, and in fact will have often "laid themselves out" in the first couple of years - though some of course can go on and be healthy and productive for a few years All the best Sue Dark Brown Eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
