An issue that we run into every now and then is that our eggs seem to get very thin and brittle. This causes them to crack very easily. They become so brittle that it does not take very much at all of them to break.
Our best guess is that the chickens are missing something in their diet. We believe that this is caused from a calcium deficiency. There are several ways that this can be remedied. One option is in the type of feed you buy. Some feed options will have a higher amounts of calcium. Another option is to give them oyster shell grit. Then there is the option that we use and that is to use their own eggshells as a source of calcium.
Some will just throw the whole eggshell into their chickens and that’s fine, but we like to crush the eggshells before the chickens get them. After the eggshells are crushed, we mix it into their feed. This makes it easier for the hens to consume the calcium in the shells. Also, it completes the circle and offers an option that is more sustainable in nature. While this is the option we like to use, there are many other choices one could make to get more calcium into your chicken’s diet.
Thanks for reading!