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[good_egg]

Buffy has been laying quite thin shelled eggs the last couple of weeks (she only lays about 3 a week) and on Saturday went into the nest box with all the fuss and drama associated with laying but produced nothing. I'm a bit worried about her so have been thinking what could cause it. I will work them with flubenvet this week - it is three months since we last did (actually nearly 4) but I also wondered about food. They are spoilt so have garvo alfamix. Try as I might I cannot get them to eat the pellets t the same rate as the good stuff.... Do you think that could cause issues? I also wonder if she gets more of the yummy bits as she is top chook?

[The Dogmother]

Soft shelled eggs can be down to any of a few reasons:

 

Age: a hen's shell gland can weaken with age, especially if it's a prolific layer. Not much can be done to help this.

Parasites: specifically worms - they will leach the bird's system of nutrients, including calcium.

Diet: this plays a large part in the problem.... hens need a balanced diet with enough protein and calcium to lay eggs with strong shells; cut out treats, feed a good, complete food (nothing fancy is necessary) and if necessary enrich their food with cod liver oil (vit D3) and ground eggshells.

 

There can be other causes such as untreated infectious bronchitis.

 

I would try excluding any treats for a while, worm them and get them on some good, basic pellets such as Smallholders, keep them in the run for a while and let them get on with it. A hen won't starve and they will eat the pellets when they start to get hungry. See if that makes any difference after a week, I suspect that she may well improve, and at least you can exclude diet as a cause if she doesn't.

 

Mine are all on Smallholder pellets with the additions mentioned above, they are pure breed bantams and 2 of them are over 6 years old. Even one of those graces us with an egg every now and then, but they all have strong shells and are very healthy.

[chickencam]

You don't say how old she is, I have found that mine lay thin shelled eggs as they age. The hybrids by the time they are 2-3 years old and a pure breed a bit older. I have a Light Sussex pure breed who is nearly 7 and she laid 4 eggs a week for 5 months of this year and her shells rarely break but are very thin, thankfully with a light tap they crack very neatly around the centre. I also have a hybrid that is coming up to 5 and she lays very thin shelled eggs, we just have to remember to use them in baking and not try them boiled. The whites also thin with the age of the hen.

 

Mine have Garvo layers pellets and a handful of Garvo mixed corn special with some meal worms as a treat in the evening. They also have a constant grit supply.

 

Some birds just lay eggs with thinner shells than others.

[good_egg]

She is just over a year old. I think I'm going to buy some layers pellets and mix into the alfamix? There are two and a bit bags left so don't want to waste it. Or perhaps I will try a week of just pellets then reintroduce the alfamix to the mix. Will mix the flubenvet tonight. Thanks

[The Dogmother]

I would put them straight onto pellets and not offer anything else for a couple of weeks, then use the Alfamix as a restricted treat thereafter. Otherwise they will continue to pick out the bits they fancy and not get what they need, and you are in a similar situation as you are now.

 

I know that the Alfamix-type feeds look lovely, but it helps them to selectively feed, whereas they don't get that choice with pellets and thus get the full complement of nutrients.

[Flowerpot]

I am a newbie and have one of my four hens who consistently lays a soft egg. I have given all my girls grit, baked egg shells and calcium liquid in their water but she still lays a soft one.

I am worried about her bones but I have no idea what to do other than what I have already done.

Any ideas anyone?

Also I have another hen that possibly has lice. Got the vet to do a visit and she said she couldn't see any but was like that she still had them. I am attempting to give my hens organic food etc and so use an organic mite/lice powder. the vet laughed when she saw what I had and said she would order me some proper chemicals

I don't want my hens to have lice but I don't want to use chemicals on them.

What should I do? use the chemicals or stick with the organic powder.

Please help

Thanks

[The Dogmother]

Hello Flowerpot, when did you last worm your hens, and what did you worm them with?

 

You've tried adding extra calcium to their diet, so you have excluded dietary issues as the cause of soft-shelled eggs; you now need to look at other possible causes. You would need to worm them quarterly with Flubenvet to make sure that they don't have a heavy worm load, which could be compromising their health. If you vet isn't sure about them having lice, then either find a chicken savvy vet or more experienced chicken keeper who can show you how to look for them.

 

If you can give us an idea of roughly where you are located, then there might be a friendly Omleteer in your area who would be willing to give you a few pointers.

 

There are lots of threads on here about lice and mites, so have a read about them, and the ways to get rid of them in the meantime.

[good_egg]

I have bought a sack of pellets. Will feed just that tomorrow - everybody ready for the hard done by faces?

 

Thanks DM!

 

Now what to do with my 2 and a bit sacks full of alfamix!!!

[PoachedPlease]

As far as lice go...garlic all the way! So far no lice in any of my girls, or worms come to that!

 

Someone here recommended the pellets you get in the feed shop, and they have worked well. I used to put a clove in their water, but that got expensive.

 

Xx

[The Dogmother]

Now what to do with my 2 and a bit sacks full of alfamix!!!

 

As I said, use it as a limited treat once they are back on the straight and narrow.

[Flowerpot]

Hi

Thank you so much for your response to my cry. I have only just got back to it ....sorry. Still having soft eggs!

I worm my girls every week with Verm-X!

I live in Hawes North Yorks I would love it if someone could come and give the girls the once over. I have two who are now moulting so they look very much the worse for wear but they are still laying!

I have looked under their feathers for lice and still cannot see any.

I have put garlic powder in their food but not very regularly . I shall be more thorough with that and see if it helps. I still think they have no lice!

I love my girls and I want them to be happy and well.

Flowerpot

[Flowerpot]

Hi Again

Just looked for Flubenvet and Omlet don't have it..... where do I get that from?

 

The girls do go out from the run alot so they may be getting the worms from the garden. I will get them onto Flubenvet and keep them in....it will give the grass a break at the same time!!!!

 

They do get treats but only in the afternoon after they have fed on the layers pellets.... they love mealworms and sweetcorn!

 

I think I might be a littler bit too indulgent! HaHa!

Flowerpotx

[The Dogmother]

You need to get Flubenvet from a licensed outlet; try Marriages feeds online, they sell the ready mixed pellets in a 10kg bag... ready to go. If you've not used a proper licensed wormer before then be sure to dose them every 3 months.

[Flowerpot]

Thanks

I shall give it a go.