2 Soft Shell Eggs in a Row?!

[SJsChickies]

We have had this problem too. Not sure which girl is laying the soft ones. Going on a week, today 2 soft ones on the poop shelf. We have 2 other layers and 4 not started yet. Should I add something to all the food? I’m also concerned it’s the feed from Fleet Farm. I have heard Kalmbach is good.

Do you have a dish of oyster shells for them to access? Mine have that too but one was still having a problem. The calcium citrate has helped her so much. Since we started it, no more soft shelled eggs and she’s only laid one a day. I’m going to keep it up for possibly a full week just to make sure she’s good. Is there anyway to find out who’s laying them? Ours was easy cause we only have one laying right now and I watched her drop one right in front of me. I’d def recommend the calcium citrate if you can find out who it is. Our girls are on Kalmbach and love it. They are still on Flock Maker 20% cause we have quite a mix of ages in there but the big girls help themselves to the oyster shells. I’d def recommend Kalmbach. I don’t know where you are at but Chewy has a great selection of their feed and delivers for free if you spend more than $50!

 

[cktap62]

Do you have a dish of oyster shells for them to access? Mine have that too but one was still having a problem. The calcium citrate has helped her so much. Since we started it, no more soft shelled eggs and she’s only laid one a day. I’m going to keep it up for possibly a full week just to make sure she’s good. Is there anyway to find out who’s laying them? Ours was easy cause we only have one laying right now and I watched her drop one right in front of me. I’d def recommend the calcium citrate if you can find out who it is. Our girls are on Kalmbach and love it. They are still on Flock Maker 20% cause we have quite a mix of ages in there but the big girls help themselves to the oyster shells. I’d def recommend Kalmbach. I don’t know where you are at but Chewy has a great selection of their feed and delivers for free if you spend more than $50!

Yes, we have oyster shell anytime they want it. I have a hunch it’s Billy Jean, but I don’t really want to shove a pill down her throat! I’m going to order some Kalmbach from Chewy and crush up some egg shells too. They seem to like it more than the oyster shell. Thanks!

 

[SJsChickies]

Yes, we have oyster shell anytime they want it. I have a hunch it’s Billy Jean, but I don’t really want to shove a pill down her throat! I’m going to order some Kalmbach from Chewy and crush up some egg shells too. They seem to like it more than the oyster shell. Thanks!

I cut the calcium in to 4 smaller pieces and give it to her at night so it’s not so bad. But I get it, I’m not thrilled about doing it lol

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I cut the calcium in to 4 smaller pieces and give it to her at night so it’s not so bad. But I get it, I’m not thrilled about doing it lol

I crush up a calcium/D3 tab in a paper towel and then add it to wet cat food or any other desirable animal protein (ground beef, etc.) No one’s rejected it yet!!

@cktap62

 

[SJsChickies]

Ok so I have Agnes calcium citrate for 7 days and she laid 6 perfect eggs. Did not give her any last night cause I figured 7 days was good. Got up to check on all the chickens this morning and she laid 2 soft shelled eggs AGAIN. One in the run and one in the house. Both I assume off the roosts. They’re on 20% Flock Maker with oyster shells on the side but is it possible she’s not supplementing enough calcium on her own? Should I change them to layer with oyster shells on the side? The 4 that are in that run are all over 15 weeks so I know they’ll be ok but I’ll be integrating a much younger one soon (in the next 2 weeks) so she’ll need grower so I’ll have to switch them back then.

 

[Navyboi2025]

I have a sapphire gem that just started laying July 30th. First egg was to be expected, thinner shelled and small. She then went on to lay every other day for a week. Small beautiful, hard shelled eggs. She took off a couple days then started laying again. Beautiful, hard shelled eggs. This Saturday evening, she looked down, not herself. Tail tucked, no interest in free ranging. I gave her nutri-drench and the next morning she laid a soft shelled egg off a roost in the run. She was acting normal after that. Yesterday she laid a perfect LARGE hard shelled egg. Well this morning, she was acting weird again so I went to get more nurti-drench and when I went in the run to give it to her, I noticed she had laid a soft shelled egg off the roost again. Gave her the vitamins, left the run, turned to look at her and watched her drop ANOTHER egg! Very thin shelled. All the girls are on Kalmbach 20% Flock Maker with a side of oyster shells that she helps herself to all day. What can I do for her!? My first set of girls a few years ago only laid one soft shell egg then were totally normal after. I’m just hoping she’s ok.

If there soft shells then they need more calcium in there food mix in some some fly larvae in there food

 

[SJsChickies]

I gave Agnes Calcium again on Thursday night and replaced the Flock Maker with layer feed. She laid a soft shell egg off the roost again Friday morning and I gave her more calcium that night. So far today, no soft shell egg. Hoping it stays that way. I know that glitches are completely normal for new layers but 8 soft shelled eggs in 2 weeks seems like a problem to me. Thoughts?

 

[SJsChickies]

If there soft shells then they need more calcium in there food mix in some some fly larvae in there food

Yes, she's been getting extra calcium on top of the oyster shell.

 

[DSJMHenDen]

I've had a rash of soft shell eggs this summer from not only my new layers, but my 1+ year old girls as well. Before we got the new pullets the older bunch had been on layer pellets, but still with oyster shell on the side. They never had soft shell issues until about 2 months of being on flock maker crumbles. Anyway, I ended up buying some of the flaked oyster shell vs the crumbled. They have been eating that better and our soft eggs issue seems to have resolved . Also, I sprinkled some around on the ground as well as putting it in the same dish and finally saw them eating it. So what I have learned at least from my flock is....
Flaked is greater than crumbled oyster shell, and oyster shell on the ground is superior to it in a dish dang chickens.

 

[SJsChickies]

I've had a rash of soft shell eggs this summer from not only my new layers, but my 1+ year old girls as well. Before we got the new pullets the older bunch had been on layer pellets, but still with oyster shell on the side. They never had soft shell issues until about 2 months of being on flock maker crumbles. Anyway, I ended up buying some of the flaked oyster shell vs the crumbled. They have been eating that better and our soft eggs issue seems to have resolved . Also, I sprinkled some around on the ground as well as putting it in the same dish and finally saw them eating it. So what I have learned at least from my flock is....
Flaked is greater than crumbled oyster shell, and oyster shell on the ground is superior to it in a dish dang chickens.

Thats really good to know! I have the crumble looking oyster shells. I'll get some flake and see if they do more than throw it around the run lol. I had a feeling that maybe the flock maker and oyster shells wasn't enough so I'm hoping the layer feed will also help. I'll just have to maybe keep the younger pullets away from the older ones till 15/16 weeks now so I won't have to put the bigger ones back on flock maker when I integrate. We'll see how the flake oyster does! Thank you!
Also, yes, dang chickens! It looks like the bottom of a fish tank around the dish of oyster shells cause they just fling it around while they're digging through it lol. Silly girls!