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Questions about Abnormal Laying

smithcity
edited May 2010 in Feeding & Health Care
Hi all, just wondering if anyone can shed any light on an issue I'm having with one of my hens.
I'm pretty new to keeping chickens, having only started about 3 weeks ago so I'd be grateful for the advice of the more experienced among you.

One of my hens has gotten into the habit of laying at different times of the day, sometimes she lays late in the evening or overnight while still on her perch. When this happens, the egg tends to have no shell at all.
Sometimes she lays during the normal hours, but more often than not the shell of the egg will still be extremely thin. I've also noticed that she tends to be quite noisy when laying at day time, with lots of squawking coming from the coop.

I don't think that this is a dietary or nutrition issue as my other hens are laying perfectly well.

Does anyone have any ideas what is going on here?

Comments

  • FATduck27
    edited November -1
    Make sure she is getting plenty of grit.
  • smithcity
    edited November -1
    Yup, they always have access to a container of mixed grit so I doubt that's the problem.
  • longfordchook
    edited November -1
    "smithcity" said:
    Yup, they always have access to a container of mixed grit so I doubt that's the problem.
    it has to do with lack
    of callcium
    oyster shell/ roasted powdered eggshells sould help
    make sure she is getting enough layers pellets cut down on scraps if your feeding them
    make sure there are no mites /fleas
    worm hens every six months
    mice rats at night can cause the hens a lot of stress and cause prem laying
    hope some of this helps

    vinnie
  • FATduck27
    edited November -1
    "longfordchook" said:
    [quote="smithcity"]Yup, they always have access to a container of mixed grit so I doubt that's the problem.
    it has to do with lack
    of callcium
    oyster shell/ roasted powdered eggshells sould help
    make sure she is getting enough layers pellets cut down on scraps if your feeding them
    make sure there are no mites /fleas
    worm hens every six months
    mice rats at night can cause the hens a lot of stress and cause prem laying
    hope some of this helps

    vinnie[/quote]

    I agree with vinnie too many scraps (especially bread) can cause laying proplem too.
  • smithcity
    edited November -1
    Hmmm, well they weren't getting much by way of scraps, they were fed almost exclusively on layers pellets with the occassional handful of corn and rolled barley as a treat.
    Anyway, I introduced a couple of new birds the other day and decided that was a good time to move and expand their run. They had previously had about 50sq metres between the three of them, now they have 150sq metres between 5 birds (overkill I know, but we have the space so might aswell give them a decent stomping ground). Since the change of scenery there have been no more soft shelled eggs. I know they weren't overcrowded before, but the extra space seems to have done the trick.

    Thanks for the replies all the same.
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