Free range vs. confined for strong egg shell

[gimmie birdies]

I just want to FOCUS on free range vs. confined for STRONG EGG SHELL. I have a friend who has a hen, or hens with a weak shell, I told her all about egg-plus enriched feeds, adding oyster shells and or crushed baked egg shells. But then I got to thinking about different ways people raise hens and wanted some sage advise from both ways of raising them and how it may relate to egg shells.

Free range (Beyond the yolk color and natural goodness-es) of greens, (not all coops have green left. my coop has so much space 1/4 acre just for chickens but nothing left, we live in a very arid area.) My thought is in an area like this, there may be many distractions for a hen. (dust bathes, napping under trees, running, and what ever else chickens do during the day.)

Confinement- I am not thinking of a tiny cage, but if some one has a small coop and a run, the hens are in front of the feed more, and eat more, but sometimes hens can over eat and then don't lay as much because of that...

I really don't know how this gal is keeping her hens, but if I could suggest one or the other, and arguments for and against (with out getting into arguments ) hopefully her hens can improve from more advise.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I'm a poultry nutrition Nazi but I don't think strong egg shells depend on whether hens have access to free range greenery or are confined to a barren run. It is about the total nutritional intake. Cage hens (which I abhor) have rather strong shells.

 

[SueT]

My hens free range for about 7 hours a day, with unlimited grass/forage and the shells have always seemed strong. I often put eggs in my pockets while finishing up other chores and have never broken one that way.
(They are fed Purina Flock Raiser and free choice oyster shell as well.)

 

[PetitePlume]

If you have a lot of place maybe you could cut it in section and plant something, let ot grow and move them thre while you do the same on the other side?

My hens free range a lot and have been eating 1/2 of what they werw used to. Shells are not super strongs, but the hens are sure super happy!

 

[aart]

but if I could suggest one or the other

It's just not that simple.

I have a friend who has a hen, or hens with a weak shell....I really don't know how this gal is keeping her hens,

Send her here with(or get the) details on what all and how exactly she is feeding...and if it's just one bird or all of them laying weak shells.

 

[gimmie birdies]

That was the original plan, for my property, Petite Plume, but now I have to cart water out there since my pump got busted. I am trying not to focus on my situation though, just free range/penned for egg shells for another gal.

Thank you all though for your input!

 

[MomJones]

It's strange: we have 2 dozen + birds and their eggs shells vary in strength even though they're all on same diet. The Ameraucanas have consistently strong shells while a couple of the big Barred Rocks and maybe a Buff or two have somewhat thinner shells. Once in a while an egg will literally break while picking it up. Not a good thing but I'm working on it. They get free choice crushed oyster shells which they tend to spread all over the run , what a waste!

 

[SunHwaKwon]

It's strange: we have 2 dozen + birds and their eggs shells vary in strength even though they're all on same diet. The Ameraucanas have consistently strong shells while a couple of the big Barred Rocks and maybe a Buff or two have somewhat thinner shells. Once in a while an egg will literally break while picking it up. Not a good thing but I'm working on it. They get free choice crushed oyster shells which they tend to spread all over the run , what a waste!

Same here. Egg shell thickness varies with my hens, as does yolk color, even though they all get the same feed. I have oyster shell out all the time and give them crushed egg shells as well. I did notice harder shells when I was feeding them Layena Oyster Strong and they were not free ranging as much because of the local hawk migration. I have a mixed flock, though, so usually I feed something with lower calcium and higher protein and just offer the supplements mentioned above. I try to let them free rane as much as possible, and they do get a lot of scraps from the refrigerator.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I would separate the weak egg layer from the lay pen, so hens will not get used to egg eating, I also have some fake eggs in the pens, so the hens will get no reward if they peck at it.