Chicken dropping soft eggs (beginner)

[DirtyBirds]

Hey everyone, need some help. I am a first time hen owner of six redstar chickens. They started laying from 18-20 weeks and are about 25-26 weeks old now. I am pretty sure they are all laying now because I am averaging 3-4 eggs a day which I am rather impressed by. This past week the temperature outside has gotten into the 90's and one of the girls is dropping a soft egg out in the run. I am not sure which one it is or if it is more than one but for the past 5 days or so I have seen a small soft egg dropped on the ground. They are on adult crumble by purina I believe and they have access to oyster shell and grit all day. I even keep there water iced for them to keep them cool. There run has shade all day so I am not sure what the problem is. All of the eggs that are inthe nesting boxes are nice and brown and XL. Any advice or is it normal for them to drop soft eggs on occasion. Thanks

 

[chicmom]

It does happen, but usually it's just a few soft eggs here and there at first, when they have just started laying. The layer feed should provide all the calcium they need, but maybe sprinkle some of the oyster down around the feeders, right when the hens are watching. They will gobble it up like it's a special treat. (At least that's what mine do.)

Hope this helps. Sometimes you do get a hen that for some odd, unknown reason, doesn't produce good egg shells. I imagine, this hen, in your case, is at the bottom of the pecking order, so she's laying out in the run, instead of in the nest boxes with the other gals. You might need to play detective so you can figure out which hen is laying those membrane eggs.

Sharon

 

[DirtyBirds]

Thanks for the advice, I have not seen a soft one today but I think I know which girl it is. She has a twin so I can't tell them apart. These two hens are skiddish and don't like to be touched where as my other four are so friendly. All my hens seem to get along fine, I have yet to see any broody ones. What do I do when I know who it is that is laying soft eggs?