We have had some strange egg problems in the last few days.

 

1. Saturday night I noticed that one of the eggs in box 1 was starting to hatch so I expected it to be out on Sunday morning. When I went to check it looked like half of the egg had collapsed (was flat), I could still see the chick moving under the shell and it was like the shell had melted. After watching Libby's video about helping a stuck chick out I slowly started to peel the shell away but the shell was sticking to the chick (melted onto it). I finally got off as much as I could and replaced the chick only to have the hen throw it out dead a couple of hours later.

 

2. In box 4 I had a hen lay a really big egg on the floor of the cage early yesterday (broken) then last night she laid a smaller one in the nest box but it looks kind of chalky??

 

Anybody know what is happening?

Hmmmmm - How are her calcium levels?

They should be fine. They get calcivet, greens and this round I'm using breeding aid for the first time.

Possibly overkill with calcium??? not sure exactly. Do you have days of clear water (no supplements) ??

Maybe a humidity problem????

Misshaped eggs will indicate endometritis/metritis i.e. an infection of the uterus. They don't sound misshapened though. Could be a problem with the shellgland (uterus) or maybe metabolism or could be nothing. Who knows. Each hen is different.

 

What kind of greens do they get?

Edited September 22, 200816 yr by Sailorwolf

Interesting SW I have endo ... What greens? As some ( containg Iron) will counteract with the calcium. With the sizes of the eggs it could be that the ovary releases two yolks within a few hours of each other and causing the eggs to move more quickly through the oviduct ...

Edited September 23, 200816 yr by KAZ
fixed spacing and emoticons

Interesting SW I have endo ... :DWhat greens? As some ( containg Iron) will counteract with the calciumWith the sizes of the eggs it could be that the ovary releases two yolks within a few hours of each other and causing the eggs to move more quickly through the oviduct ...

 

Other way round neat - calcium affects iron absorption.

Oxalates in brassica plants bind calcium.

Brassicas are spinach, Kale, turnips, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts

- Iron and Vit E sorry not Cal

Edited September 22, 200816 yr by Neat

So should we not be feeding brocoli etc to laying hens?

Possibly overkill with calcium??? not sure exactly. Do you have days of clear water (no supplements) ??

 

Clear water every second day.

 

What kind of greens do they get?

 

Daily vegies are: Bok choy, broccoli, carrots and egg.

 

 

I have 9 breeding cages full at the minute and not having any problems with the eggs / chicks in the other 7 boxes, only these 2 boxes??

I don't think that it could be a feeding issue then...

 

Got me mate

Eh, I would not think broccoli is bad. Maybe just not all the time. Feed carrots, dandelion, peas, beans more often. Broccoli can be fed less. I would advise against feeding corn during this time.