Chicken Folks?
#6240926
05/15/18 06:57 PM
05/15/18 06:57 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
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tjm
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I've had a few chickens for more years than I can usually remember, and, I have read a ton of info on how to get the egg shells to be stronger/harder/thicker; none of which has ever really applied to my almost feral flock. This bunch of year old egg makers are turning out eggs that are almost unbreakable, not only are the shells them selves hard as glass, the membrane has to be torn also; leading to many scrambled eggs and not so many "over light" eggs. A quick search of the internet returned no pertinent results.
So... any one out there have experience with Super Egg Shells and know a cure?
>>ahh, the question of feed; milo, corn, and 120A of rocky woods, with an occasional feed of mash. And the water is limestone spring.
Last edited by tjm; 05/15/18 07:01 PM.
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Re: Chicken Folks?
[Re: tjm]
#6240934
05/15/18 07:05 PM
05/15/18 07:05 PM
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Joined: Nov 2015
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Catch22
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It sounds like they have a good diet. If they are young pullets starting to lay or haven't been laying long, it's normal. As their eggs get bigger they will get softer.
I wonder if tap dancers walk into a room, look at the floor, and think, I'd tap that. I wonder about things.....
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Re: Chicken Folks?
[Re: tjm]
#6240965
05/15/18 07:29 PM
05/15/18 07:29 PM
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Catch22
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Wow, Iv'e had them hard before, maybe not that bad though. I would give it some time and see if the calcium spreads out when the eggs get bigger in size and will thin them some. That's about all I can think of unless maybe their diet may change for summer. Do they free range at all?
I wonder if tap dancers walk into a room, look at the floor, and think, I'd tap that. I wonder about things.....
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Re: Chicken Folks?
[Re: tjm]
#6240967
05/15/18 07:30 PM
05/15/18 07:30 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,911 Central, SD
Law Dog
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Check your feed if your feeding them that store bought stuff and see what they have in it, my Purina feeds have oyster shell added in the feed.
Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!
Jerry Herbst
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Re: Chicken Folks?
[Re: Law Dog]
#6240983
05/15/18 07:51 PM
05/15/18 07:51 PM
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tjm
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i wonder about the limestone spring maybe. I have wondered if they are getting to much calcium this way, but my birds have all used it for at least 30 years. It's why I don't feed oyster shell. I would give it some time and see if the calcium spreads out when the eggs get bigger in size and will thin them some. That's about all I can think of unless maybe their diet may change for summer. Do they free range at all? Dark to dark free run anywhere they want to go. I've been expecting them to get thinner as the gals got used to laying but it almost seems the other way round. Check your feed if your feeding them that store bought stuff and see what they have in it, my Purina feeds have oyster shell added in the feed. Feeding whole grains 90% of the time .. store bought though. I'll have to look at calcium content of alternative feeds like oats or wheat..
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Re: Chicken Folks?
[Re: tjm]
#6240993
05/15/18 08:07 PM
05/15/18 08:07 PM
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tjm
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Re: Chicken Folks?
[Re: Budfish]
#6241766
05/16/18 09:16 PM
05/16/18 09:16 PM
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tjm
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So; no one has any good ideas on getting thinner shells/membranes? Make the "first whack" harder. That hard whacking breaks the yolk supports and the yolks run. Besides customers don't like tough to open omelets.
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Re: Chicken Folks?
[Re: tjm]
#6241771
05/16/18 09:27 PM
05/16/18 09:27 PM
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Catch22
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I tried and will say Happy Birthday, many more my friend!!
I wonder if tap dancers walk into a room, look at the floor, and think, I'd tap that. I wonder about things.....
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Re: Chicken Folks?
[Re: tjm]
#6241831
05/16/18 11:15 PM
05/16/18 11:15 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
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tjm
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I know, you don’t have to say it——I wasn’t helpful. Hey ya gave it a shot, Mr Duck! Actually the stalactites have been growing more over the last few years, so over abundance of calcium could be in the water. I'll probably switch springs for their water supply and see if anything changes.
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Re: Chicken Folks?
[Re: Catch22]
#6241833
05/16/18 11:16 PM
05/16/18 11:16 PM
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tjm
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I tried and will say Happy Birthday, many more my friend!! Thank you sir.
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Re: Chicken Folks?
[Re: tjm]
#6242020
05/17/18 09:35 AM
05/17/18 09:35 AM
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bowbrown
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The only fix I have is to keep extra eggs in the fridge for a couple weeks and start rotating eggs daily or weekly. We do this with our eggs to make them easier to peel after hard boiling. I have eggs that are at least a month old and are much easier to peel.
MOLON LABE
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Re: Chicken Folks?
[Re: tjm]
#6242077
05/17/18 11:26 AM
05/17/18 11:26 AM
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iaduckhntr
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Stop cross breading the chickens with guinea fowl! Them guineas had the hardest shell I ever come across. I don't know how a chick ever made it out of an egg alive! Dennis
Old 8 toes~~ life ITA and NRA member Life in the fast lane is no place for a tricycle!
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Re: Chicken Folks?
[Re: tjm]
#6242109
05/17/18 12:09 PM
05/17/18 12:09 PM
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trapper les
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Catch, what you say is somewhat true and these have only been laying since February, but I have never had eggs this hard before, whack them on edge of skillet only gets a peck hole, leading to another whack and mostly to broken yolk and shell parts in the skillet. I've always had hard shelled eggs, just not this hard and the membrane is tougher than duck eggs. Membrane is almost as thick as 'soft shelled' egg. Give them soft water .
"Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not."
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Re: Chicken Folks?
[Re: tjm]
#6242133
05/17/18 01:23 PM
05/17/18 01:23 PM
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M.Magis
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Here's a quote I pulled from a google search. No idea the validity, but the author seems sure of him/herself. Adding boron 6mgs per gallon in their drinking water (only source) 2-3 times a week will prevent buildup of calcium where it shouldn't be (dissolve in 8 oz of distilled hot water 140F to 180F after its fully dissolved, dilute to 1 gallon with distilled water). Too much calcium being pulled from the bloodstream to form a super hard/thick shell can shorten the production life of your hens.
Last edited by M.Magis; 05/17/18 01:23 PM.
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