1st egg ever - soft and eaten? Cry*

[BelovedBirds]

We picked up two POL hens yesterday, and today there was what looks like a soft shelled egg in the coop.

I don’t know if they ate it or if it cracked and smeared when I opened their door.

It looks like some peck marks on some spots… I’m just so sad to think that we are JUST starting on our egg journey and we have a problem.

Just looking for support and hope.

I wouldn't stress too much, when my ducks were new to laying, they laid a couple soft shelled eggs, and one of which were accidently broken and eaten- they aren't egg eaters. I'm sure you'll be fine!

 

[vibackyardchicks]

Oh I am so sorry! Are you sure that is even a egg?

Yes. I cleaned the coop yesterday and put in fresh bedding. The two new birds are supposedly already laying and this was found directly under the roost they were on. When looking at photos it seems to be a soft shelled egg.

I wouldn't stress too much, when my ducks were new to laying, they laid a couple soft shelled eggs, and one of which were accidently broken and eaten- they aren't egg eaters. I'm sure you'll be fine!

thanks trying not to panic.

 

[Tookie]

It looks like a shell-less egg shell. I had this happen to one of my chickens once and she was fine. I did give her calcium citrate with D3 just in case, I would give her some.

 

[azygous]

I concur with @Tookie . A soft egg can be caused by stress or low calcium reserves. A calcium citrate tablet can be a terrific help with practically no effort. Buy this fro, Walmart and give one whole tablet directly into the beak a day until eggs are back to normal.

 

[Happy hen lover]

I'm going to jump in here. I've had some eggs that look like that kind of leathery but no egg eaters here. I usually find the guts absorbed in the bedding. I think hens eggs are weird at first. I think sometimes they drop an egg like they drop a poo! Right off the roost.
Question do you have oyster shell available to all. If you mentioned that I missed that.

 

[Tonyroo]

We have 3 that are 15 weeks.
3 that are 8 weeks.

And the new gals are 18 week hyline browns that I was told just started laying.

I’m hoping it’s just their youth/working out the kinks.

She did mention they were on a mix of feed to ease into layer pellets. Now I have them on only layer pellets.


So possibly stress of the move, change in diet, and being new to laying?

How long would that take to work out? A couple of weeks?

I REALLY hope they aren’t egg eaters

You have to give it a month or 2 for consistency. But if one of the chickens did eat it. It was probably out curiosity and not a bad habit.

 

[vibackyardchicks]

I'm going to jump in here. I've had some eggs that look like that kind of leathery but no egg eaters here. I usually find the guts absorbed in the bedding. I think hens eggs are weird at first. I think sometimes they drop an egg like they drop a poo! Right off the roost.
Question do you have oyster shell available to all. If you mentioned that I missed that.

I hope she’s just working out kinks! Found another soft shell tonight which I suspect from the same hen.

This is their 36th hour in our coop.

I do not have oyster shell separately available, but it is in their food and I bake and leave crushed egg shells out in a dish by their food.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I hope she’s just working out kinks! Found another soft shell tonight which I suspect from the same hen.

This is their 36th hour in our coop.

I do not have oyster shell separately available, but it is in their food and I bake and leave crushed egg shells out in a dish by their food.

My guess is it's stress from moving and the birds being very young and likely new to laying that's causing her to lay soft eggs.

Oyster shell should not be mixed in with food. If you're trying to supplement the feed directly, stick with layer feed. Any additional calcium for the flock (egg shells, oyster shells) should be separate.

If you know which bird is the issue, use the calcium citrate or separate her for a private snack of wet feed mixed with ground oyster shell to address her issues directly.

 

[azygous]

If you haven't given the hen a calcium citrate tablet yet, you're missing a very easy fix.

 

[vibackyardchicks]

If you haven't given the hen a calcium citrate tablet yet, you're missing a very easy fix.

This is our second full day with her. I will go grab some pills from the store. Thank you!