Eglu Go With 2m Run For Sale

[carrotspine]

Hi all,

I'm pretty new to chickens but so far managed to get the basics right (they have made it throught their first month with me!), however, my bluebell, Pop, has started laying soft shelled eggs and they are not in the egg box in the eglu. First she laid an eggs in the run on Tusday night then this morning I found one under the bars in their house. I know Helen, my huge sussex sleeps in the egg box and the other three cuddle up to her. They all were going back into the house after they'd had breakfast, within a couple of hours, but Pop seems to have got out of sync with the others. I don't mind as she is laying but it's s shame we can't eat them after she's put the effort in!

Does anyone know the best thing to give them to harden the shells, Helen will dominate everone and eat first so I might struggle to isolate it just for Pop. Also how do I get her back into the house to lay her eggs?

Many thanks for any advice

[sjp]

try dandelion leaves and dried meal worms first dandelions are a great source natural calcium meal worms contain an amino acid that helps the body convert calcium into a form that the body can use also check the use by date on the feed bag as old or nearly passed it best feed can course problems also put a pot of mixed grit also known a oyster shell grit in the run so they can help themselves as they need. but I'd get a bottle of life guard tonic as this is really good for getting the girls ready for egg laying or helping with soft shelled eggs with new layers and after the moult or the old girl that needs help with absorbing calcium. I had a columbian black tail hybrid that was prone to laying softies so about every 6 weeks I'd put life guard in the water and cod liver oil in the feed

[carrotspine]

Many thanks sjp, I'll try that

[auntielizzie]

A couple of my girls were laying very thinned shelled eggs recently, so I started mixing some of their grit and oystershell mix in with their food (they have Garvo mash) and that seems to have instantly helped It seems that although they had constant access to the grit and oystershell in a container in the run, they can't have been eating enough of it (maybe even not eating any of it as I never would see them eating it). Maybe you could try that (if you haven't already).