Shell less eggs

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dolphin8

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Hi All

So I have five girls about 20/22 weeks old and for the last two nights, when letting them out in the morning there has been three shell less eggs. I was just wondering if this was normal when they first start to lay.

They have been on growers mash mixed with layers pellets the last coule of weeks with treats of a little corn in the evening and greens two or three times a week. They have about an hour or two a day free time in the garden weather permitting.

All are well and healthy and eating well.

Any advice?

Cheers

Julie :)
 
Perfectly normal for odd eggs when they first lay but they may be getting too much growers mash and not enough layers pellets. So can you get layers mash instead with the layers pellets, as they now need the Calcium boost for strong egg shells?
 
Thats what I thought but they waste alot on mash so was trying to get them moved onto pellets. Was advised to mixed it gredually and just up the amount of pellets................they are eating it well. But will keep in mind getting them layers mash.
 
On the Mash wastage--Depends on the type of feeder you have. I used to have the long tray type feeder and I found that it could easily be scratched over and the layers mash would be wasted. I invested in a round hopper suspended on a chain from the roof and changed to pellets. NO wastage at all. I then had to use up the layers mash I had and although it went quicker- there was still no wastage. It was not spilled on the ground but a hopper of pellets will last 2 days but mash was just over 1 day.

And you have not mentioned it but Grit. Mine get a Grit mix of Flint- silica and Oystershell but I used to get very thin shelled eggs. Mainly when they come back into lay or when the new ones start to lay. They have a small hopper of grit that is kept full now and less thin shelled eggs. I do not let them run out of grit or just rely on them finding it in the soil base that mine are on.
 
You can swop feeds over in a matter of days, no need to string it out too long. I agree that the type of feeder is important whether you're feeding mash or pellets, some are much more wasteful than others. Avoid anything that can get knocked over and suspending them is good.
Mixed grit is essential and if the hens are housed and advisable even if they are free range for high yielding hens. Soft shelled and other abnoral shells occur with a lot at various stages of their life but particularly at the beginning and end of laying.
 
They have grit and oyster shell as they want, I have an ascot feeder and they still waste the food on the floor. Not sure how far down the screw should go, any ideas? We have moved onto la yers mash mixed with pellets now but will be on pellets after the mash runs out. But good news we had three normal shelled eggs since first posting so moving in the right direction. :)
 
Hi All

I'm hoping to get some hens in a couple of weeks. They will be 20 weeks old, so I know it will probably be 2-4 weeks before they start to lay.

My query is: Do shell-less and soft-shelled eggs need throwing away?

Many thanks

Carol
 
No, if they are fresh and the membrane is intact the inside will be OK to use for cooking, but they won't be any good for boiling!
When you get to the stage of having more eggs than you need, or if you dont fancy an egg with a poor shell, just scramble them in the microwave and feed back to the hens, who will appreciate the extra protein. Don't feed raw egg, of course, in case they get a taste for it!
And anyway, it's more than likely that your pullets will lay ordinary normal eggs, though they may start small and then lay bigger ones after a few weeks.
 
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