Unsecure chicken perches

[Sky]

I have four girls and at the moment we are getting either one or two eggs a day from them. However, all the eggs at the moment have a rough sandpaper like shell at one end. The pointed ends of all the eggs are fine, nice and smooth but the other end of all the shells is rough. What is causing this and what can I do (if anything) to rectify it please? Chickens are fed on layers pellets, always have access to oyster shell/grit and have Life Guard tonic in their water. They also get a daily dose of greens in some form. All girls look healthy and are behaving normally.

[jimnpaula]

I don't know why it happens but some of mine do that too. Most of mine are old lady ex bats.

 

P

[Sue]

As far as I understand this it is a calcium imbalance - either too much or too little

 

Nowadays calcium is added to the pellets in the form of ground limestone, at I think about 10percent - you can check on your feed label - (I suppose rock is cheaper than grain but probably anymore would cause serious problems Just being a bit cynical there)

 

You could try making oystershell grit available as free choice in a little pot, and maybe adding a very small amount of cod liver oil to their feed, as I think it contains certain vitamins that aid calcium absorption.

 

Also it is probably something that hybrids bred to lay more eggs than is good for their bodies are prone to in later life, or when coming into or going out of lay. Which is whey they are "disposed of" by the egg farmers fairly early on in their laying lives

 

All the best

Sue