consistently getting soft shelled eggs

[Red Bird]

Put some food coloring in the suspect's vent and when she lays her egg it will have some coloring on it. If she's not the one just change the color and go down the line till you find the culprit. We cull are birds if they lay shell less eggs, but we have too many good layers and no time for birds with issues. 

what kind

 

[CassChicken]

You will need to give them what's called shell grit usually when they lay soft eggs it means thy are low in calcium or are new at laying eggs

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I would like to see the tag off one of your feed bags that lists the ingredients in each bag along with the vitamin and mineral content.

 

[CassChicken]

One of my dad's friends makes the shell grit and we get small bags of it that have no tags so I can't really help you on that one but it's very self explanatory, it's literally crushed up shells

 

[aart]

Quote: Noooooo....the egg comes out as hard as it going to get.

The crinkles happen in the shell gland and can be caused by one of several issues.

 

[RezChamp]

In my world 1 chicken's physical problems would most likely become a delicious pot of soup.

 

[RezChamp]

I know in humans iron inhibits calcium absorption so its probably the same with chickens. Spinach is high in iron.

Yes but the spinach will still be such a small percentage of the diet, that little bit of iron can't possibly have any effect.
It's not like they're eating a big spinach salad for lunch every day. At least 90% of the diet should still be properly formulated chicken feed.

I would never have imagined such a broad spectrum of knowledge on a chicken forum. Chicken people (and dog people) are so amazing.

With all due respect to ChickenCanoe .... I don't know what a "properly formulated chicken feed" is although every company makes a separate "complete and balanced diet"or"formula" for every aspect of a chickens life from egg to grave. I think it's easier to just let them have run of the lawn, bush, swamp, haygrounds, corrals, pastures........practically feral.
Personally I believe a chicken can give us a good run for our $$ when it comes to environmental intelligence(horse sense). It seems they have an innate knowledge pertaining to their nutritional needs when left to their own devises in a more natural (to chickens) environment.
Granted, I recognize that not everyone's chickens has that luxury.
But I would still not put up too long with a weak link. I would still make it my lunch.

 

[Cluckies]

I have 6 girls, one EE (Baby) started laying in January, she still hasn't gotten it right. her eggs were huge right from the beginning, but within a week they were thin, then soft shell. I've went from game bird grower (winter) to layer feed (dumar then layena crumbles), they have crushed oyster shell, I have given her liquid calcium mixed in with yogurt, she loves it, still no dice. She'll lay the soft shelled eggs, then quit laying for a week, then she'll lay a couple good eggs, then thin, then rubber again. mind you she seems to have loose poo during this time as well. She is a wonderful sweet girl. I don't care about the eggs really. but two have broken half in half out, I'm worried for her health. I think i'll try the D3, how does it come? can you get it at walmart or a drug store? is it liquid? how do you dispense it?

All my other chickens lay fine (except for my other EE who stopped in november and hasn't started back up yet).
They get a probiotic every 2-3 days in their water. sometimes powdered probiotic in yogurt.
They get greens (i'll cut out the spinach, I did not know about that could affect their calcium). They get kale, cauliflower, lettuce, and shredded cabbage with carrots chopped smaller. they free range an hour or two a day, (just started a couple weeks ago again).
they also get boss mixed 2/1 with scratch, about a cup to cup 1/2 a day.
meal worms here and there...

We are in minnesota, so minimal sun all winter, just starting to have more sun now, about 7 am to 8 pm. but it has been cloudy for awhile now.

Thanks for all the suggestions! If it doesn't straighten out I may have to get her fixed as I don't want her dying from this. I love her!

 

[Suzie]

You CAN get calcium D3 at Walmart...if you buy the tablets just crush some and add to the feed...I have mine on prescription...comes in both tablet and powder form...amazing results for my Turken chickens...they are huge chickens and the D3 has helped tremendously in getting them to lay hard shell eggs now.

 

[NikkiCole5]

I'm crashing this thread lol. I get one of these eggs almost everyday, is this a sign of problems?