menagerie Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 Can anyone help with my problem with Scarlett? For the last couple of weeks she's been laying infrequently and when she does lay the eggs are often soft-shelled, also quite often stuck onto a proper egg, as if they're going through her in pairs and one of the shells has not formed properly. When she does lay a proper egg the shells seem slightly thinner than normal. Some of the soft shelled ones have yolks and others don't, and they're long rather than egg shaped. Apart from last friday when she seemed down she is acting normally and eating, drinking and running about. Our other 2 hens are laying fine and we have provided more poultry grit/oyster shell than normal. Can anyone tell me what's going on and do I need to take her to the vet. I've already read the soft shelled stickies on the forum but can't find anything quite like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westie Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 Firstly, don't panic! has she been laying regularly before now? I spent £50 at the vets when I first started so stay calm. Westie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 do you give the grit/oyster shell in seperate feeders or mixed in with the food? if seperate, have you actually seen her eat the grit/oyster shell? if not, try mixing it in with the food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 There was a recent post about limestone flour for this problem. Maybe that would help (along with grit & oystershell ). http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16611 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateP Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 This morning Roxanne laid two soft shelled eggs. One looked normal until I picked it up and it burst and the other one was small and a funny shape. I provide grit for them but I think I might start mixing some in with their porridge to make sure they are eating enough? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 Chicken grit should be provided for hens, to help digestion. Oyster shell is used as a calcium booster. Limestone flour works the same way and is apparently more digestable. I have used limestone flour mixed in with their evening pellet porridge for a few weeks and Laverne's eggs are much better quality now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 This morning Roxanne laid two soft shelled eggs. One looked normal until I picked it up and it burst Sick and the other one was small and a funny shape. SNAP! I found one soft egg this morning already broken in the nest box (either with no yolk or it had been eaten) and then she laid another small softie later on which was funny shaped and had a translucent dent in it. She's been laying every day for a couple of weeks and I've been putting out plenty of grit and started them on Limestone Flour earlier this week. She had a sneezing session this afternoon that terrified me too. I'm way too anxious to have chickens! I thought pets were supposed to be relaxing?? Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
menagerie Posted December 1, 2007 Author Share Posted December 1, 2007 I think it might be something to do with such short days - Scarlett was always like clockwork up until recently. Maybe they can't ingest enough calcium or something. Anyway I have stopped treats and am mixing the grit and oyster with the feed and she does seem to have been OK the last few days so fingers crossed. I will try to get hold of some limestone flour too. It is terrible having chickens as the slightest thing makes you panic - I can quite sympathise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 I will try to get hold of some limestone flour too. I got mine from a horsey supplies place - it's the same brand as the garlic powder I've got. Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 Menagerie, Has Scarlett laid a normal egg yet? Big Zee laid another softie today but seems otherwise well. I wonder if she's worn her calcium out after laying every day for a couple of weeks (she's only about 24 weeks old). Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
menagerie Posted December 3, 2007 Author Share Posted December 3, 2007 Hi yes thanks, she has laid 2 or 3 normal ones I think, no soft ones for over a week, so fingers crossed she is back to normal again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 My Bunny laid more softeis than hardies after starting well. Then she got sporadic and now she's moulting. She was supposed to only be 16 weeks when I got her but she laid her first egg very quickly. She NEVER crouched. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
