Getting Calcium Into Chickens?

[shadegrow]

Our black rock girl seemed a bit off today and laid a softy this evening. We're wondering if it's a calcium deficiency, although it shouldn't be. Their feed has calcium in, they get powdered, baked eggshell, poultry spice and grit everyday. But we're wondering there is any other way to get calcium into her, i.e a liquid form (other than dairy). Thanks.

[chris]

I guess your grit has oyster shell in it? Feeding their shells back to them is good as they can absorb the calcium, albeit I've read the amounts are very small... - however as you say most feeds for laying have all that they require to lay..

Could it be shock? I've also read that a variety of things can affect the egg shells (i.e. soft ones) - does she seem healthy otherwise? -might be worth checking her over for (not sure if it can be around this time as it's so cold) mites / lice etc?

[Bramble-Poultry]

calcium and soft eggs is covered in the sticky at the front page. link here:

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...tml#post519939

hopefully this may answer some questions

[motherhen]

It's not always calcium deficiency when they lay soft shells, do they get scraps ( treats ), is their ventilation OK in the house? do they have intermittent free range? how old?
Most good quality layers mash or pellet should have adequate calcium, but this would very much depend on other additions to the diet.
As Chrismarks says shock can also affect the shell developement.

[Glutton4...]

I've noticed, in my limited experience (just over two years) of Chook-keeping, that Chickens are affected by many many factors. I only have to move the nest-boxes, and half of them will not lay the next day. I'm getting 'wind-eggs' periodically, but I think that's because some of them are coming back into lay after the moult.

I haven't had a 'softy' for ages. However, this morning, I had a shell-less egg in one of the nest-boxes. Perfect white and yolk, just no shell! The really amazing thing, is that none of them had eaten it!

[Suechooks]

I've had 2 soft shells and 2 very thin shells since the fireworks at New Year. The girls that laid the soft shells have laid normally since.

[RichmondHens]

Don't automatically assume she has a calcium deficiency just because she has produced one soft shelled egg. It sounds like she is getting plenty of calcium in her diet. As others have said it could be due to a number of things, not necessarily your fault or under your control!! It also may be the one and only time she does it. If she starts laying them regularly though, then you will have to take a closer look at her general health.

[shadegrow]

She's been laying them nearly every day for about a week. My daughter wonders if the new year fireworks have upset her she is a nervy bird. She puts the softys down anywhere but today she sat in the nestbox for an hour or so & we had an egg out of there later. Not sure if it was hers she normally lays massive brown one's which this one wasn't. She's the only one we noticed sitting today though. Maybe she's easing back into it. Thank's for all the advice.

[Bramble-Poultry]

How old is she? if she a consistant layer of softie eggs then usually its an indicator of an underlying problem and if she is fed properly then the problem is not usually calcium based unless shes old. Hens store calcium and once the store is depleated through age then they usually go off lay completley, occasionally one will continue to lay but will lay softies - this is actually a genetic deficiency in as much as the gene to end her laying has not "switched off"

Lots of illnesses can cause softies too so if she is not that old then watch her to see if shes ok in herself, worm and de mite/louse her incase its a parisite load problem. If it doesn;t improve then you may need to readress the underlying casue!

Jen

[shadegrow]

She's just into her 2nd year & has been a great layer (our others are reaching the 4 year mark) She looks in great general health red comb etc glossy & rapidly becoming number one in the pecking order. She was slow around the park when she was trying to put an egg down but was back to her usual self when she got it out. Think she is over it touch wood we got one that looks like hers today big n brown.

[petal]

my poor ex batts are laying eggs but one or two are half soft shelled, which I think someone said is the shock of moving?

[Glutton4...]

my poor ex batts are laying eggs but one or two are half soft shelled, which I think someone said is the shock of moving?

Well, let's face it, it is a tremendous shock for them. I have heard of people whose Hens have died of shock on the journey home from the rescue centre. They'll soon rally, I would think. I find it amazing that they lay at all, but mine did too, even f it was only every 3 or 4 days. Bless 'em!

[Happy Chickens]

Thanks

calcium and soft eggs is covered in the sticky at the front page. link here:

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...tml#post519939

hopefully this may answer some questions

Thank you for the information it was very helpful and I appreciate the knowledge you have given