The chances are you've come across some strange eggs if you've been raising chickens for a while. Most of the time, odd-looking eggs aren't a significant problem, just a production glitch.
In chicken farming, hard-shelled eggs are one of the most common "hiccups". You may think that your hen is sick if you find these soft-shelled eggs, but this is not necessarily the case; in fact, you can do something to prevent this from happening in the future.
Check out this article to find out what these eggs are, why they happen, and what you can do to prevent them.
People generally want their eggs to be strong enough to survive the collection process from the coop to the kitchen or the weight of the hen. These eggs, however, often feel and look soft and rubbery, similar to water balloons.
As opposed to regular eggs, which have a hard shell covering the yolk and white, rubber eggs have a membrane or a fragile shell that you can see through or quickly break with your finger.
If you're starting to notice thin-shelled eggs in your collection, the signs that led you here may have been missed.
There's a high chance that soft-shell eggs are distressing your hen, so you should not take them lightly. When a hen is laying, look for signs of distress.
These young hens are still learning how to lay eggs and are still working out the kinks. As a result, you need to give them some grace before expecting them to produce perfect eggs. In the meantime, keep your pullets a little slack. She might turn out to be one of your most reliable layers in the long run.
A layer's body contains extra calcium, but it may not be sufficient to sustain the process of laying. In order to ensure that they receive adequate calcium, you should consider supplementing them through feeds.
If you do not provide calcium-rich feed to your hens, soft eggs should not be your only concern. Unfortunately, hens' bodies will begin to withdraw calcium from their bones if you do not feed them calcium through their meals.
As calcium is necessary for bone development, it may cause other medical concerns that could reduce the life expectancy of your fowl. Furthermore, calcium is necessary for the hen's contractions, which contribute to her ability to lay eggs.
Due to the lack of a hard shell, it is relatively difficult for a hen to lay such an egg. Furthermore, it is possible for the egg to become trapped within the hen's vent, resulting in the hen overstaying its period in the nest box without being able to lay an egg.
It is imperative to note, however, that these two minerals require sufficient vitamin D to function properly. The intestinal tract of chicken absorbs calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium more rapidly when it is supplemented with vitamin D.
As a result of inadequate vitamin D intake, young flocks develop rickets, laying hens lay rubber eggs, eggshells have less physical strength, eggs break more easily, egg laying decreases, and farmers suffer significant financial losses.
In chickens, vitamin C is equally critical during egg production, as chickens synthesize it naturally in the kidneys. Vitamin C also helps repair tissue, and it serves as an antidepressant. If your layers are deficient in vitamin C, their mortality rates can increase, their egg production may be reduced, they may become fatigued in cages, and their shells may be thin & easily broken.
By providing your hens with enough space, you will be able to keep them comfortable and active throughout the entire laying season.
In most cases, a chicken's body is capable of withstanding temperatures up to 106 degrees Fahrenheit. In spite of this, these birds are unable to regulate excessive temperatures like humans, and as a result, they are more sensitive to heat than you are.
Even though you cannot do much about the weather, you can provide relief for your brood with water sources & a cool coop for them to rest in.
A high level of stress can interfere with the development and formation of eggs, and to a certain extent, your hen might lay fewer eggs than usual or cease to lay eggs entirely.
Keeping your layers isolated from aggressive chickens and protected from other predators is the most effective course of action. Additionally, you may wish to consider using beak bits as a means of reducing henpecking.
In extreme cases, your hen may change the color of her eggs (from brown to white). The good news is that several vaccinations can be administered during the growing period of your hen to prevent IBV. If you require diagnosis or treatment, you should contact your veterinarian.
Chickens are living organisms, and just like humans, they may experience problems at times. It is possible, for example, that the egg was released through the oviduct more rapidly than anticipated by your hen. It is therefore a glitch if your healthy hen only produces one soft-shelled egg while the others are fine.
In chicken farming, hard-shelled eggs are one of the most common "hiccups". You may think that your hen is sick if you find these soft-shelled eggs, but this is not necessarily the case; in fact, you can do something to prevent this from happening in the future.
Check out this article to find out what these eggs are, why they happen, and what you can do to prevent them.
What's a Soft-Shelled egg?
A softshell egg is also known as a rubber egg, shell-less egg, or partially shelled egg. It has no shell or a very soft shell.People generally want their eggs to be strong enough to survive the collection process from the coop to the kitchen or the weight of the hen. These eggs, however, often feel and look soft and rubbery, similar to water balloons.
As opposed to regular eggs, which have a hard shell covering the yolk and white, rubber eggs have a membrane or a fragile shell that you can see through or quickly break with your finger.
If you're starting to notice thin-shelled eggs in your collection, the signs that led you here may have been missed.
There's a high chance that soft-shell eggs are distressing your hen, so you should not take them lightly. When a hen is laying, look for signs of distress.
Common Reasons Chickens Lay Soft Eggs
Here are some common reasons why your chickens may be laying soft eggs:1. Age
As soon as you notice your hens are laying rubber eggs, take a look at their age. Young layers or pullets lay more soft-shelled eggs at the start of their laying cycles. When young hens mature and their reproductive systems are fully developed, thin-shelled eggs may become less common.These young hens are still learning how to lay eggs and are still working out the kinks. As a result, you need to give them some grace before expecting them to produce perfect eggs. In the meantime, keep your pullets a little slack. She might turn out to be one of your most reliable layers in the long run.
2. Calcium Deficiency
You should check your hens' calcium intake if they start laying soft-shelled eggs suddenly, despite being of age and laying regularly. In most cases, thin-shelled eggs occur as a result of a calcium deficiency.A layer's body contains extra calcium, but it may not be sufficient to sustain the process of laying. In order to ensure that they receive adequate calcium, you should consider supplementing them through feeds.
If you do not provide calcium-rich feed to your hens, soft eggs should not be your only concern. Unfortunately, hens' bodies will begin to withdraw calcium from their bones if you do not feed them calcium through their meals.
As calcium is necessary for bone development, it may cause other medical concerns that could reduce the life expectancy of your fowl. Furthermore, calcium is necessary for the hen's contractions, which contribute to her ability to lay eggs.
Due to the lack of a hard shell, it is relatively difficult for a hen to lay such an egg. Furthermore, it is possible for the egg to become trapped within the hen's vent, resulting in the hen overstaying its period in the nest box without being able to lay an egg.
3. Vitamin Deficiency
A solid eggshell and healthy bones require calcium and phosphorus. Furthermore, these minerals promote the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats in the body of all creatures, including chickens.It is imperative to note, however, that these two minerals require sufficient vitamin D to function properly. The intestinal tract of chicken absorbs calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium more rapidly when it is supplemented with vitamin D.
As a result of inadequate vitamin D intake, young flocks develop rickets, laying hens lay rubber eggs, eggshells have less physical strength, eggs break more easily, egg laying decreases, and farmers suffer significant financial losses.
In chickens, vitamin C is equally critical during egg production, as chickens synthesize it naturally in the kidneys. Vitamin C also helps repair tissue, and it serves as an antidepressant. If your layers are deficient in vitamin C, their mortality rates can increase, their egg production may be reduced, they may become fatigued in cages, and their shells may be thin & easily broken.
4. Stress
Stress is another factor that can lead to poor eggshell quality. The following are some examples of stress:Stress due to environmental factors
An overcrowded coop or a small chicken run can stress the chickens out. Keeping too many chickens in a small coop can cause weak eggshells and other health problems.By providing your hens with enough space, you will be able to keep them comfortable and active throughout the entire laying season.
Stress due to heat
If your hen has begun laying weak eggshells, you should check the temperature in the coop. The effects of heat on layers are more severe than those of cold temperatures.In most cases, a chicken's body is capable of withstanding temperatures up to 106 degrees Fahrenheit. In spite of this, these birds are unable to regulate excessive temperatures like humans, and as a result, they are more sensitive to heat than you are.
Even though you cannot do much about the weather, you can provide relief for your brood with water sources & a cool coop for them to rest in.
Stress caused by a rooster
The rooster is essential for fertilizing eggs, but he can also become an irritant to your breeding hens if he tends to overmate. Separating the roosters from the layers is the only method of removing this stressor.Stress caused by predators
Bullying by other chickens, henpecking, and other animals such as dogs and cats may contribute to predator stress. A feeling of insecurity can also lead to a weak shell or an unusually shaped egg as a result of stress.A high level of stress can interfere with the development and formation of eggs, and to a certain extent, your hen might lay fewer eggs than usual or cease to lay eggs entirely.
Keeping your layers isolated from aggressive chickens and protected from other predators is the most effective course of action. Additionally, you may wish to consider using beak bits as a means of reducing henpecking.
5. An indication of illness
Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) and Bumblefoot are also possible causes of soft eggshells. You may notice that your fowls have stopped eating, are sneezing, are laying fewer eggs, have swollen heads, weak eggshells, wrinkled eggshells, or shellless eggs.In extreme cases, your hen may change the color of her eggs (from brown to white). The good news is that several vaccinations can be administered during the growing period of your hen to prevent IBV. If you require diagnosis or treatment, you should contact your veterinarian.
6. A soft shell egg may occur from time to time
It is possible for a mature hen to produce a soft egg at random even if she is healthy, eats a calcium-rich diet, does not experience any stressors, and stays warm in her nest. Thus, it is possible that the soft egg just occurred, with no logical explanation for its occurrence.Chickens are living organisms, and just like humans, they may experience problems at times. It is possible, for example, that the egg was released through the oviduct more rapidly than anticipated by your hen. It is therefore a glitch if your healthy hen only produces one soft-shelled egg while the others are fine.
