Chicken Problem

[diamond lil]

First 2-3 days we had one big fine egg every day. Then I started finding smashed eggs in the nest box, today I found a big fine egg in there but when I lifted it, it was too fragile and broke. What causes this ? I am giving them oystershell grit but nowhere does it say how much to give, maybe they need a lot ? You mix it in with their pellets ?

[Red Doe]

Are they young POL birds Lil? It`s normal for this to happen if so, you`ll get the odd one or two broken and a few soft shelled ones..it`s almost like a test-drive for hens laying eggs if ye like.
Commercial layers pellets do contain all the grit they would need so the most likely explanation is their age, give it a wee while and it`ll settle down fine. Occasionally with young hens I get a few like this til it does, then the poor wee buggers will lay a superhuge double yolked one and I get an `ouch` reaction to those!

[diamond lil]

Ok many thanks pet. Is just the OH bending my lug going on and on - why can't I be like everybody else and just buy eggs etc etc. Just a variation on the why do I have to join silly survivalist forums when nobody else does it, blahblahblah. I said cos I'm not everybody else am I, I'm me
But just sometimes, I get tired bein me !

[preppingsu]

We had a few like that fom our new rescue hens. They were in such a bad state and I guess all their energys went into making new feathers etc that some of the eggs we were getting had almost paper shells.
We also had a few that got cracked and some that were eaten!
I give mixed poultry grit in with their pellets and some poultry spice (because it was reccommended - don't know what it does!) and cider vinegar in their water.
Recently as the weather has improved we've been getting 5 eggs a day

[diamond lil]

Putting cider apple vinegar in their water, but the weather here is still cold and grey. Maybe the wee hennies need a bit sun as well !

[the-gnole]

Tub of grit, for them to process their food better.

Added crushed egg shells to their food.

Add a couple of plastic eggs to the nest box as this can help stop them eating their own eggs, if they get a taste for it they carry on and don't break the habit.

[smileyt]

I'll second the poultry spice. You only need a tiny bit and it does seem to perk them up. My Hepzibah laid a soft-shelled egg this morning but she has been poorly and is just coming back into lay again. Sometimes I sprinkle a bit of oyster shell in with their feed.

If you're feeding them egg shells make sure they are dry and grind them up well.

But yes, hennies need some sunshine too - it's like a nutrient for them. Their cycle is completely controlled by light and darkness and I think they are far more sensitive to light levels than we humans.

[preppingsu]

I'll second the poultry spice. You only need a tiny bit and it does seem to perk them up. My Hepzibah laid a soft-shelled egg this morning but she has been poorly and is just coming back into lay again. Sometimes I sprinkle a bit of oyster shell in with their feed.

If you're feeding them egg shells make sure they are dry and grind them up well.

But yes, hennies need some sunshine too - it's like a nutrient for them. Their cycle is completely controlled by light and darkness and I think they are far more sensitive to light levels than we humans.

I agree with the sunshine. We had 6 eggs today which means all have laid, for the first time. We have glorious sunshine today.

[diamond lil]

We had cool grey 9C Will get some poultry spice but use it just when needed, if the sun comes out and they start to lay I will stop feeding it. I get up at half 6 to let them out, as the run gets full sun early on. Later on in the afternoon it's in shade of the sheds. TY everybody

[luxor]

Add a couple of plastic eggs to the nest box as this can help stop them eating their own eggs, if they get a taste for it they carry on and don't break the habit.

i had this problem with my hens eating their eggs.
the solution is make a small hole each end of the egg, blow the contents out and refill with mustard,
seal the ends and return to the hen house.
problem sorted.