Soft Egg Problem

[Sally]

Hi All

I have a real problem with my hens, they keep laying soft shelled eggs. Sometimes its completely floppy somtimes part of it is formed and the rest is all soft. This is causing my hens to become egg bound, as if part of the egg is formed and part isn't they have nothing to 'push on' to get the egg out. I believe this coused one of my hens to have a prolapsed vent - sadly thevet had to put her down. I really don't want a reinactment of this so any advice is appreciated.
The hens have a mix of quality layers mash and layers pellets as well as mixed corn. I also feed oyster shell to them addlib, but they don't seem to like it?? I also give them lots of green veg treats that are high in calcium. Advice greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Sally

[armadillo]

It sounds like they do get a good diet; you could try giving them cooked, crushed-up eggshells to boost their calcium - I do this with mine & the one who's reached laying age creates very hard-shelled eggs.
Also, make sure they don't get the corn/other treats until later on in the day so that they eat enough pellets, giving them a balanced diet. Maybe there is some kind of calcium supplement available?
I hope they recover soon, it must be worrying.

[Sally]

Thanks Armadillo
I will try the cooked egg shells.
Sal

[MaureenHall]

I have the same problem from 1 or 2 of my chooks. I find that crushing the eggshells and mixing it with some layers pellets and warm water into a mush gets the extra calcium into them. I've even resorted at times to finely grind some of the shell/grit mix if I've run out of shells. Don't do that very often though