3.6m Omlet Chicken Run for sale, Brand New in Boxes, Milton Keynes (MK19)

[dacktarie]

Hi Everyone,

I bought a columbine pullet a while back and ever since she started laying we get 1 good double or triple yolker a week followed by up to two weeks of very soft shelled eggs that are laid two or three at the same time!

She has oyster shells, tonic, extra calcium and has been wormed.

Im getting fed up of the expense and am now thinking about culling her as she sometimes seems unwell and is very thin.

My other chicken is laying fine, no issues.

Is anyone able to help before we have to do the deed as knowone else will want her like this.

Thank You!!

[..lay a little egg for me]

Sounds like her egg production mechanism is very over-active. Pullets sometimes take a while for the egg production to settle down so I would not give up on her yet!(How old is she and how long has she been laying BTW?)

 

I'm no expert at all but if I were you I would consider taking her off layers pellets/mash (or at least reducing the amount) and fattening her up a bit with some treats or growers pellets which should slow things down and allow more time for the shell to be formed. The soft shelled eggs do make them feel unwell, probably because of the high speed that things are going on in there!

 

I expect someone more knowledgeable will be along soon to advise.

[dacktarie]

She has only been laying for 8wks or so and she is 28wks/6months or so old.

Ive put her on ex batt pelets to help put weight on and it has extra calcium.

[Egluntyne]

If she seems unwell, perhaps she has an underlying condition or an infection.

 

Don't forget that hybrids are often very thin though. This isn't always indicative of poor health.

 

Try her with a dollop of cod liver oil on her pellets for a while, it will help her absorb and metabolise the calcium more efficiently.

[sjp]

I had the same problem with big red when she started to lay last year cod liver oil, life guard tonic and changeing the feed brand did the trick, dried meals worms as well help the body adzorbe calcium

I also changed the grit pot to a cage cup so they could sort out the right bits of grit been picky little madams it had to be just right

[Chucky Mama]

Is she still very young? If so things may settle down as she matures a little. There have been quite number of topics re soft shelled eggs. If you have some time it is worth doing a forum search to read other people's experience. Beware of over doing the calcium. I would choose 1 supplement and ensure that it contains calcium & vitamin D (Zolcal D or Limestone Flour & Cod Liver Oil, Baked crushed egg shells are good too). Ensure that she is getting a decent feed of pellets or mash. If she is free ranging try keeping her in for a few weeks - put up some green veg for her to peck on. I would give her some time though. It is not an unusual pattern in young hens - doubles, triples, softies - usually followed by normal eggs.

[dacktarie]

Thank you to all that replied to my message, Ive now switched to ex batts pellets which have more calcium etc and it has done the trick!!

We now have a lovely single yolker every day with a loud and proud egg anouncement!!

I would highly recommend ex batts pellets by the smallholder range.