Weak Eggshells? Think Beyond Calcium!
Sarah SimonShare
Guest Post By Karen Howeth - What the Clucks Up
Instagram: @WhatTheClucksUp
You crack open the nesting box and there it is... a soft, fragile eggshell that practically falls apart in your hand. Your first thought might be, “My girls need more calcium!” But before you start piling on the oyster shell, there’s another important piece of the eggshell puzzle we need to talk about: protein.
Calcium is definitely important for strong eggshells, but it is not the only piece of the puzzle. Protein and essential amino acids also play a role in egg formation. Protein helps support the matrix underneath the shell, which provides a framework that helps hold the calcium crystals together. Think of it as part of the structure that helps the shell form properly. Pretty interesting for something we usually just crack open and eat!
And this is where looking at the whole diet matters. Laying hens need calcium, so oyster shell should be available free choice so they can get additional calcium when they need it. At the same time, more calcium is not automatically the answer to every weak shell. A complete, balanced diet provides the variety of nutrients your hens need to support normal egg production.
So the next time you find a soft or fragile egg, don't immediately point the finger at calcium. Take a look at the whole picture. Is your flock getting a complete, balanced diet? Is adequate protein part of that diet? Do they have oyster shell available free choice?
Because when it comes to our girls, it’s not always as simple as “more calcium!” Sometimes there’s a little more going on behind that shell than meets the eye. 🐔 🥚
Karen Howeth is the creator behind What the Clucks Up, where chicken keeping meets real life, a little humor, and plenty of feathers. She and her husband, Steve, live in Northern Colorado with a flock of around 50 chickens, turkeys, and ducks. Their birds are more than pets, they’re part of the family and a big part of everyday life, from growing herbs and gardening with the flock in mind to figuring out all the wonderfully weird things poultry can get themselves into.
Karen’s expertise comes from hands-on experience and a genuine passion for learning everything she can about raising happy, healthy birds, and then sharing what she learns with others. She especially loves helping new chicken keepers navigate those “Wait…is this normal?!” moments with practical information, real-life experience, and a healthy dose of humor. Because with chickens, there’s always something clucking up! Connect with Karen on Instagram @WhatTheClucksUp.