What are these????

[tennis97]

I have found a few of these in my coop, and am not sure what they are. They appear to be soft shells. I have five leghorn hens but I can't be sure which ones are laying because they never lay in the nesting box. They usually lay in some small spot on my porch or around the yard so I can't tell who is laying these shells. I did notice one hen had pasty butt, but again I can't be sure if it is the hen laying these shells. They are fairly young, a few weeks short of 5 months. I didn't know if anyone has had this happen and what to do about it? Please let me know, thanks!

 

[Kelsie2290]

They do look like soft or shell-less eggs, as young as your girls are would guess their age is the reason... the eggs are usually just a glitch in the egg laying system and they are especially common in new layers or in birds just coming back into lay as as they get into gear. You are getting normal eggs also? It is not necessarily related to a lack of calcium as such, it can be related to the bird's ability to use calcium or a defective shell gland if one bird seems to do it continuously. There is a list of causes on The Poultry Site including diseases and diet problems that can lead to it ... http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publi...ndbook/16/thinshelled-eggs-and-shellless-eggs
With the hen who had a dirty butt, you might want to check her to be sure she doesn't have vent gleet, https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/vent-gleet-aka-nasty-chicken-butt
Have you tried locking your girls in the coop for three or four days to get them used to laying in the nesting boxes? Also be sure the boxes are attractive to the hens, dark, easy to get into, plenty of bedding etc.

 

[tennis97]

Yes I do get normal eggs. Sometimes when they are larger, I notice the shell is rippled on one end but the shell is still hard. Thank you so much for responding!