2 First eggs, one malformed Feed questions

C Siena

Crowing
Premium Feather Member
Feb 9, 2023
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Ohio
We had 2 pullets lay their first eggs yesterday afternoon. One was half soft shell and I know this can happen in the beginning. The other was malformed, like all the white did not get in the egg before the shell surrounded it. I want to make sure it's not serious.

We are feeding starter with OS & ES on side. The pullets have not gone to this container. We do have layer but we have 3 more ready to begin laying and 10 others that are almost 14 weeks.

Should I offer by hand some ES to the 5 that are 18.5 weeks? Suggestions?
IMG_20250723_212740461~2[1].jpg

IMG_20250723_143137435~2[1].jpg
 
The young pullets who are not yet laying (and roosters, and retired hens) will not eat eggshells or oyster shells. You can definitely offer it separately, not mixed in with feed or treats without worrying about the other birds eating it. Unless they maybe somehow intuit that they need calcium, on the verge of laying perhaps.
 
The young pullets who are not yet laying (and roosters, and retired hens) will not eat eggshells or oyster shells. You can definitely offer it separately, not mixed in with feed or treats without worrying about the other birds eating it. Unless they maybe somehow intuit that they need calcium, on the verge of laying perhaps.
The 2 that just laid eggs are not interested in the OS/ES, which we have in a container. That's why I thought I might offer them a little ES by hand and/or take the container to them. I don't add either to feed. The hens go to it as they choose and roos ignore.

I think the SG is one who just laid, as she has been going in the nest boxes. A CQ began to squat a week ago, so I'll guess it's one of the 2 CQ pullets.
 
The 2 that just laid eggs are not interested in the OS/ES, which we have in a container. That's why I thought I might offer them a little ES by hand and/or take the container to them. I don't add either to feed. The hens go to it as they choose and roos ignore.

I think the SG is one who just laid, as she has been going in the nest boxes. A CQ began to squat a week ago, so I'll guess it's one of the 2 CQ pullets.
Ahh, sorry! I'm in (sorta) a Zoom mtg and didn't read carefully enough. :oops:
 
Ahh, sorry! I'm in (sorta) a Zoom mtg and didn't read carefully enough. :oops:
I admit, chickens are more interesting than most zoom meetings.😎

I have work to do outside so I'm going to the coops every hour to watch if any pullets are in the boxes, though I don't expect the same two to lay again today. I can't feed more layer with the 10 younger ones.
 

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