Why chickens lay eggs with thin shells: what to do, what to feed, what to give to strengthen

People who keep poultry wonder why chickens lay eggs with thin shells, what should be done to prevent the problem. The causes of the problem are factors that affect not only the quality of eggs, but also the he alth of laying hens.

Chemical composition of the shell

The composition (90%) of the eggshell is calcium carbonate, which is responsible for the strength of the shell and is produced by the bird during incubation of eggs. The shell of a chicken egg contains up to 27 useful components that are quickly absorbed by the human body.

Main causes of thin shells

The reasons that provoke the appearance of a thin shell on chicken eggs may depend not only on external factors, but also on poultry diseases.

Incorrect content

Chicken requires compliance with the correct conditions of detention. The place where the laying hen is kept should be dry and warm. The condition of the bird is also important, if the chicken is regularly exposed to stress conditions, then the shell may be thin or absent.

Diet

Improper nutrition not only negatively affects the he alth of laying hens, but can also provoke the appearance of deficiencies in eggs. Insufficient amounts of essential micronutrients in the poultry diet most often result in thin skins that can rupture when exposed.

More often, soft shells indicate deficiencies in the following substances:

• calcium;
• manganese;
• iodine;
• zinc;
• phosphorus.

Mistakes can be made where too much of one substance is added to chickens. Nutrition should be comprehensive, selected in accordance with the age of the bird.

Hormonal disorders

Failure in the hormonal background of chickens can occur with improper care or diseases. The result of such irregularities may be the absence of eggs or the presence of defects such as soft shells.

Possible diseases

Chickens can be exposed to diseases that not only affect the quality of the eggs, but can also lead to the death of the bird.

Infectious bronchitis

Viral disease progresses rapidly in birds and infects he althy ones. A laying hen can contract the disease from another hen. The virus can be transmitted through saliva and droppings. Also, this virus is often carried on household tools that are used to care for the chicken coop. The disease manifests itself with the following symptoms:

• drowsy;
• wheezing;
• teary eyes;
• heavy breathing.

The disease progresses rapidly and can infect chickens in a coop within a week. Infection particles can travel long distances and cause an epidemic among birds.

Important. Often this type of disease appears in chickens under the age of 1 month.

Newcastle disease

The disease can also be called pseudo-plague. The disease is viral and manifests itself with symptoms of a complex type.

The disease is transmitted through the air from infected chickens, through eggs, litter and feed, and may present with the following symptoms:

• appearance of mucus from the beak;
• the bird constantly lowers its head down;
• appearance of convulsions;
• bird stool liquid, green;
• wing paralysis.

Only a veterinarian can determine the symptoms of the disease at the initial level after examining the bird.

Avian flu

The plague spreads rapidly among chickens and can infect all birds in a short time, as well as humans upon contact. Laying hens become infected with the disease through feed, rodents and bedding.

The symptoms of the disease are as follows:

• lack of appetite;
• sneezing, weakness;
• soft shelled eggs;
• crest puffiness.

Eating contaminated eggs is prohibited.

Mycoplasmosis

An infectious-type disease affects the respiratory organs of a bird. The disease is transmitted by airborne droplets during the cold season. Disease symptoms:

• appearance of mucus on the beak;
• breathing interference;
• eyeballs turn red;
• loose stools.

Chickens reduce egg production, eggs are small and soft-skinned.

Egg Drop Syndrome

This type of viral disease is a common problem in poultry. Manifested by weakness, lack of eggs. Hens infected with the disease may lay brown eggs.More often they do not have a shell, the protein and yolk are wrapped in a thin pink film, which is damaged quickly. Eggs are not eaten.

What if the eggs have a thin shell?

In order to strengthen the egg shell, you need to take the following measures.

Proper nutrition

When a soft shell is found on eggs, he althy nutritional components should be added to chicken feed. You can feed chickens with useful substances depending on the season.

Summertime

In summer, chickens need to add freshly cut greens to the diet, such as sainfoin and alfalfa, plantain, dandelion. Also in the diet of the bird should be chalk. The hens must be free to move around in the pen so that they can replenish their supplies of missing components. The corral needs to be moved to new locations regularly.

Winter period

Chickens are kept indoors during the winter, so supplementation becomes necessary. In winter, it is necessary to add cottage cheese, chopped shells to the diet of laying hens.

Premixes

Special impurities that contain hormonal supplements. Among the list of drugs, the following can be distinguished:

• "Ryabushka" - contains all the necessary vitamins and minerals, which not only maintain the strength of the shell, but also increase the he alth of the chicken.
• "Zdravur Layer" - contains all the necessary amino acids necessary for the normal digestion of chicken.

Before using the premix, it is necessary to study the constituent components, since the preparations can be for laying hens and meat breeds.

Mineral supplements

Foods that contain minerals necessary for shell formation should be added to the diet of chickens:

• shell;
• chalk;
• fish oil.

Special mineral complexes available in chicken feed packages may be used.

Cure for diseases

Depending on the type of illness, appropriate treatments should be used.

TreatmentInfectious bronchitisTo prevent disease, it is necessary to increase the amount of minerals in the body of chickens. For this, special containers with chalk and lime are placed. Also, fish oil is added to the food of chickensNewcastle diseaseThe disease is complex, so the infected must be isolated from other chickens. Infected birds must be eliminated as the virus can persist in the body of the bird, resulting in further infectionAvian influenza Mycoplasmosis Egg Drop Syndrome

Diseases
The disease is not curable
Birds need to be injected with the antibiotic Farmazin, Tilsolom by drip method
Vaccination at 16 weeks to prevent this kind of disease

Important. Before starting treatment, you should consult a veterinarian. Often diseases in the initial stages have common symptoms.

Improving detention conditions

In order for chickens to be less exposed to diseases, it is necessary to follow the rules of keeping:

• follow proper nutrition;
• it should be light in the chicken coop;
• the chicken coop should be ventilated regularly;
• chicken coop where birds live should be cleaned regularly, litter changed to fresh;
• the room is treated with lime to remove harmful microorganisms.

In winter, heaters are used, the chicken coop must be warm, otherwise the birds will get sick regularly.

Prevention

Timely preventive measures are essential for the proper care of chickens and will reduce bird he alth problems. In order for the shell on the eggs to remain strong, you must:

• regularly give special mineral components to strengthen the shell;
• regularly let chickens out for a walk in the fresh air, regardless of the season;
• timely carry out all vaccinations in accordance with the age of the bird;
• at the first symptoms of the disease, it is necessary to separate the infected laying hen from he althy ones;
• keep the bedding dry and clean;
• regularly change the water in the cup.

Compliance with the rules of caring for chickens will help maintain the integrity of the shell, making it strong.

Eggs contain essential elements for human he alth. The shell is useful, which contains all the necessary minerals to strengthen human bones. The shell can be soft, in order to prevent such a problem, it is necessary to follow the rules for caring for layers.

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