The Poultry Keeper

cornflake · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 16 Location: Midlands

Hi There.
I have 4 ex batts all of which are back in full health after a year of pampering ! They have been fab egg layers but in the last month one of the girls seem to be laying her eggs without a shell Sad

Their diet hasn't changed ie layers with treats of corn and veg. Is there anything you think that I am doing wrong ?
Any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated Very Happy

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Carmarthenshire

This sometimes happens after a moult and when they first start laying, but can happen if they are low in calcium and/or protien. With mine, if i get any i up the calcium and protien by feeding cat food (not chicken flavour) with a crushed up calcium tablet or, if you don't like the idea of cat food, soya. Another good source of protien is to feed scrambled or boiled eggs and the dried shells for the clacium, sunflower seed kernals are good too. I also make sure mine have constant access to grit and oystershell.

mojo · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 8:27 pm Post subject:

a handfull of sunflower seeds is a treat and tonic and always have grit available they seem to know when to eat it

cornflake · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 16 Location: Midlands

Thats brill, thanks guys. They have always had a bowl of grit but perhaps she isn't eating it. Will certainly try your suggestions Smile

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 1178 Location: Manchester

I had 6 ex batts, unfortunately they are prone to problems with their reproductive system, they were bred to lay stupidly large amounts of eggs their first year and this can wear them out. if they're on layers pellets and have the option of oyster shell grit I don't think there is much you can do and I certainly don't think it's your fault.

I agree with the cat food idea, it's worked wonders for mine when their shells were thin. I also scrambled some eggs with crushed egg shells for them and they devoured it!