I have chickens that lay eggs with no shell.

Judging by the combs, you probably only have one or two that are laying right now. They don't all start laying at once, even if they are the same age. They will eventually all be laying, but it will take time.

junebuggena said:

Judging by the combs, you probably only have one or two that are laying right now. They don't all start laying at once, even if they are the same age. They will eventually all be laying, but it will take time.

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Agreed!

Thanks!

I switched to plain old non-organic layer feed and boom. 3 eggs a day. WOW.

My chickens have been laying since December. there are 6 of them. I average about 3-4 eggs a day- sometimes 5. In the last two weeks, I have seen about 3 eggs with membrane, no shell. I feed them a good layer pellet from Tractor Supply. I also put out oyster shell for them in a plastic carton I nailed to a tree where they like to rest in the afternoon. I even sprinkled some around the ground there. I think it must be only one chicken laying the membranous egg- they are only one every few days and all the same size and in the same nesting box. Would it help to crumble up my used egg shells and put it in their feed? Should I put the oyster shell in the feeder with the pellets? Would that harm the other chickens? The other eggs have nice firm, thick shells. Can it be anything else than calcium deficiency- if so, why only one on occasion? How can I pinpoint the affected chicken? Could this be a late starter just not getting it quite right yet?

oldhen2345 said:

My chickens have been laying since December. there are 6 of them. I average about 3-4 eggs a day- sometimes 5. In the last two weeks, I have seen about 3 eggs with membrane, no shell. I feed them a good layer pellet from Tractor Supply. I also put out oyster shell for them in a plastic carton I nailed to a tree where they like to rest in the afternoon. I even sprinkled some around the ground there. I think it must be only one chicken laying the membranous egg- they are only one every few days and all the same size and in the same nesting box. Would it help to crumble up my used egg shells and put it in their feed? Should I put the oyster shell in the feeder with the pellets? Would that harm the other chickens? The other eggs have nice firm, thick shells. Can it be anything else than calcium deficiency- if so, why only one on occasion? How can I pinpoint the affected chicken? Could this be a late starter just not getting it quite right yet?

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I think it should be MANDATORY to give your chickens their used egg shells. Well you get the point. I give all of the used egg shell back to my chickens. I also provide oyster shell free choice as well as sometimes sprinkle some into their feed. I feed my chickens Allflock feed.. Reason:: not all lay eggs. The calcium content is just under 2%. Ideal for all chickens not laying.. Those that do lay get their extra calcium from shells. Most chickens will seek out what they know they need.. (grit, extra calcium sources. etc.) If you add some oyster shell into your feed, the chickens that don't need it, will pass it up. You will find it at the bottom of the container when all the feed is consumed. Those that do need it will think. Hmmmmmmmmm just what I was looking for.
The other concern you have is can they be getting too much calcium if adding to feed??? They will not overdose on calcium if you give them in the form of oyster shells or egg shells. It may just go thru them and not be absorbed. Chicken poop will often have unused calcium . If you were to give layer feed to non laying chickens. 4% calcium. you are forcing them to consume extra Processed calcium. That extra calcium is no good.

Thanks for the info. I only have the 6 chickens and all have nice red combs and wattles. With getting the number of eggs each day that I do, I would think at least 5 are laying. I can't imagine how one would not be. Anyway, I will continue to listen to the wiser minds and do what is suggested. Love this site.