POULTRY

Why Chickens Laying Thin-shell Eggs and How to Prevent?

There are many reasons for layer chicken producing thin-shell eggs, such as being scared, lack of calcium, poor ventilation in the house, and infrequent disinfection. We can solve this problem by adding calcium to the feed, ventilating the house, and regular disinfection.

Physiological factors

1. Continuous egg production Hens lay eggs continuously for a long period of time, which can easily lead to the decline of physiological functions, often making the eggshell thinner or producing soft-shell eggs. Therefore, to improve feed quality, increase animal protein feed, and often basking in the sun, strengthen feeding management, and promote laying hens to restore physiological functions as soon as possible, to ensure that the chickens can lay eggs normally.

2. Genetic factors Different breeds of chickens have different eggshell qualities, such as native eggshells with thicker shells, and exotic breeds with thinner shells that are easily broken. Therefore, the selection method can be used to increase the thickness of the eggshell of the variety and reduce the egg breaking rate.

3. Egg-laying time General chicken farms are fed around 8 am. During the day, the blood calcium concentration is high, and the calcium secretion of laying hens during egg formation is sufficient. Therefore, the egg shells produced in the afternoon are generally thick. Eggs laid before 10 a.m. are usually formed at night. Most hens are at rest at night. The food intake is very small and the blood calcium concentration is low. Therefore, eggs laid in the morning are generally thin.

4. Influence of age Generally, older hens have larger eggs, but the eggshells are thinner. Therefore, it is generally appropriate to feed layers for 2 years.

5. Thyroid dysfunction Thyroid dysfunction in chickens will seriously affect the absorption and utilization of calcium, thereby producing thin-shell eggs or soft-shell eggs. Feeding thyroxine tablets for 3-5 days can quickly harden the eggshell.

6. Moulting Physiological changes during the hen’s moulting process will also make the eggshell thinner and increase the number of broken eggs. Therefore, it is necessary to use whole barley for chickens to eat freely for 3-5 days during the moulting period.

7. Frightened The chicken is frightened, which disrupts the nerve function and endocrine gland function, which makes the calcium formation of the egg impaired, or the egg is excreted too fast, so that a soft-shell egg is born. The egg quickly returned to normal after the fright was lifted.

8. Injured or sick The hen is injured or sick, disturbing the metabolism of calcium and producing soft-shell eggs.

9. Protozoan schistosomiasis In the early stage of protozoan schistosomiasis, soft-shell eggs are laid, and in the later stage, ovulatory shell fragments or liquid like lime water flows out.

Management factors

1. Poor ventilation 2. Chicken house temperature 3. The chicken house is dirty

and moist 4. Water shortage

Feed factor

1. Calcium deficiency 2. Lack of vitamin D 3. Phosphorus deficiency 4. Feed mildew 5. Improper proportion of calcium and phosphorus 6. Improper use of additives

In summary, the production of soft-shell eggs in chickens will be affected in many ways, so you should carefully check each link during the breeding process, ventilate and sterilize the house in time, check the temperature of the house, and ensure the supply of feed and water, especially in summer. The proliferation of various pathogenic microorganisms and parasites, coupled with the effect of high temperature, will weaken the resistance of chickens to diseases, so it is necessary to focus on prevention and treatment, so as to ensure the health of chickens and the production of eggs, bringing higher interest.

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