Why do quails lay eggs without shells: causes and what to do, prevention
Quails have long been a familiar poultry. Their eggs are a tasty and he althy product, they are used boiled and fried, are part of salads and sauces. People who have recently adopted these birds often wonder why their quails lay eggs without shells. Let's see in what cases this happens and how to normalize an unpleasant situation.
Why do quails lay eggs without shells?
If a bird lays soft eggs (on which there is practically no shell), you should pay attention to several aspects: the age of the quail, malnutrition, bird diseases.Quail grow up quickly. At the age of 30-35 days, in case of violation of the light regime and the diet of birds, they will rush, despite the fact that the body of birds is not fully formed. In this case, the female lays eggs without a shell, she has a prolapse or rupture of the oviduct, if the specimens are too large, the bird dies.
Important: even a he althy, well-nourished young quail lays 50% of its first clutch without a shell. After 2-3 masonry, the problem disappears without outside interference.
The most common reason for the appearance of eggs without a shell is a lack of vitamins and minerals in the diet of birds, calcium and protein deficiency. With the correct adjustment of the diet, the birds soon begin to rush normally. If the reason for the defective masonry is a bird's disease, it is difficult not to notice an attentive owner. He althy quails are active, they have clear eyes, strong legs, shiny smooth plumage.
If a bird is sick, it loses its appetite, tries to hide in a corner, closes its eyes and looks disheveled. He althy pets peck at such a neighbor, pull out feathers.
Symptoms and course
Excessive light in the poultry house and feeding the young with adult feed leads to early puberty of birds. In this case, they begin to rush, despite the insufficiently formed internal genital organs. In this case, the eggs will be small, with a soft shell, or stuck in the oviduct. To prevent this problem, aviaries should be shaded so that the birds can hide from the bright light.
In the diet of young animals, the presence is mandatory:
- Cleaned crushed grain (wheat, barley, millet, corn).
- Fresh greens (nettles, which should be slightly dried and finely chopped, green onion feathers).
- Cottage cheese, from day 2, 2 grams per chick, gradually brought to 10 grams, it is given in the first 3 weeks of chicks' life.
- Boiled vegetables.
In large farms, special starter feeds are used for young animals. Birds gradually begin to transfer to adult food at the age of 5-6 weeks. From the 6th day from birth, the diet of quails must include small ground shells, chalk, s alt, and bone meal. To enrich the diet, babies are given fish oil or finely chopped boiled fish at least 1 time per week. Give the bird cake and meal of soybeans and sunflower seeds. These ingredients should also be included in the adult diet.
You can use a special ready-made feed enriched with vitamins. It is chosen depending on the age of the quails and their purpose (one option is needed for laying hens, another is needed for poultry meat).
If a young quail laid an egg without a shell, you need to watch the rest of the laying hens, with the same diet and regimen. If they lay normal eggs, without a greenish tint to the shell (this may be a sign of infection), then soon everything will work out for the young laying hen.With a lack of fat and protein in the feed, laying hens squeak plaintively during oviposition.
Diagnosis
With an excess of bright light, quails intensify pecking, which is characteristic of these birds. They begin to peck at each other, their own eggs, pull out feathers from their neighbors, look disheveled, often fight. This signals the need to shade the house.
Lack of vitamins is manifested by a decrease in egg production, a decrease in the size of eggs, quails do not grow well, often break their legs and wings. The lack of vitamin A in the body of birds affects the condition of the intestines, respiratory organs, eyes, and feather cover. The chicks are not growing well. Reduced egg production and fertility of eggs.
Vitamin D deficiency is manifested by bone curvature, unsteady gait, the appearance of eggs only in the shell film (without the shell), as it affects the absorption of calcium by the body.
Vitamin E deficiency is fraught with a significant decrease in the reproductive functions of females and males. When it develops muscular dystrophy, impaired coordination. A decrease in the content of vitamin C threatens with anemia, a decrease in egg production, and a blood ring appears in the egg around the embryo. With a lack of vitamins of group B (B2, B6, B12), there is a decrease in the hatchability of chicks, growth retardation, the birds fall to their feet with lowered wings.
What should I do?
In the hatchery, the windows are covered with a blue film that prevents the penetration of sunlight. Up to 5-6 weeks after birth, crushed grain or starter mixtures for young animals are used for feeding in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. For example, PC 5-41 - from 1 day to the end of 4 weeks, PC 6-6 - is intended for 4-6 week old chicks, PC 3-8 - from 5-6 weeks.Any food for babies is diluted with water. Feed DK 52 and DK 52-4 is designed specifically for laying birds.
Quails do not have a deficiency of any one of the vitamins. If the above symptoms are noticed, the diet of birds should be reviewed and, if necessary, a multivitamin complex should be introduced. In the poultry house there should always be containers with crushed quail or chicken egg shells, ground shells, supplements of chalk, s alt, fodder yeast, green onion feathers, bone and fish meal are required in the diet.
If a bird or several individuals look sick (cloudy eyes, refusal to eat, birds are unsteady on their feet, the color and consistency of the stool changes), you should isolate them from he althy livestock and contact your veterinarian immediately. Only a specialist can identify the infection and suggest a plan for further action. For treatment, antibiotics are added to food or drink (Erythromycin, Tetracycline, Levomycetin). The scheme and duration of treatment is selected by the doctor.
Prevention measures
Young stock should be kept separate from adult stock. If necessary, reduce daylight hours for birds, create twilight in the house. Food should be of high quality and balanced. Regular cleaning of the house, changing bedding, washing and disinfecting drinkers and feeders with a hot soda solution will save livestock from the danger of infectious diseases and vitamin deficiencies. Birds should not be crowded. Regular veterinary check-ups are required. Quails are unpretentious in their care. Novice poultry farmers quickly gain experience and the necessary knowledge with a responsible attitude to their chosen occupation.
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