Double soft Shell eggs under roost

[Stephanie8806]

Hey there all. I have a flock of 12 chickens, 18 weeks old tomorrow. I believe 4 or 5 of my chickens have started laying... one white leghorn(easy to identify, because she’s the only one throwing white eggs) and either some or all of my four Easter Eggers(all the other eggs have been green, not sure yet who is laying which).

For the most part, they’ve all been in the nesting boxes with one accidentally laid outside(the white leghorns first, I think it surprised her ) and one on the poop board under the roosts. That was a weird one, but as I never found one there again, I figured it was a fluke as well. It was a normal egg, hard shelled and uncracked/unblemished so it didn’t seem to have been dropped from the roost.

Today, I found a surprise on the poop board. Almost in the same spot, there were two eggs. Fully formed with very thin shells... like papery and see through. One was burst open, the other was very badly cracked and only just held together with the inner membrane.

Since these hens are brand new layers, I know they may still be getting in a rhythm... but to find two separate layings? I’m worried one chicken might be laying on the roosts... does that even happen???

 

[Sonya9]

Yes sometimes if the need to lay happens at night they have no choice but to lay on the roost (they can't see in the dark so can't move to the nest box).

Soft shells are also not that unusual especially for pullets. As long as they have access to oyster shell they should be fine.

 

[Stephanie8806]

Yes sometimes if the need to lay happens at night they have no choice but to lay on the roost (they can't see in the dark so can't move to the nest box).

Soft shells are also not that unusual especially for pullets. As long as they have access to oyster shell they should be fine.

Okay thank you! I just hadn’t really heard of soft shell eggs before, except in calcium deficiency... but right before they turned 16 weeks I put out an oyster/eggshell mix and they do a good job helping themselves. Today I sprinkled a little extra in their feed tray as well, just to be safe.

And I’d definitely never heard of chickens laying on their roosts before. Should I just accept the waste eggs or would it be beneficial to have a small light source in there for them while they’re getting into a rhythm? OR, is it just inevitable that every now and again a chicken will lay at night?

Thank you! I’m definitely more at ease now!

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Okay thank you! I just hadn’t really heard of soft shell eggs before, except in calcium deficiency... but right before they turned 16 weeks I put out an oyster/eggshell mix and they do a good job helping themselves. Today I sprinkled a little extra in their feed tray as well, just to be safe.

And I’d definitely never heard of chickens laying on their roosts before. Should I just accept the waste eggs or would it be beneficial to have a small light source in there for them while they’re getting into a rhythm? OR, is it just inevitable that every now and again a chicken will lay at night?

Thank you! I’m definitely more at ease now!

I don't usually consider them a "waste." If I get a soft shelled egg that isn't covered in poop and didn't bust, I eat it for breakfast! I haven't died yet. Don't give them an extra light though because that stimulates them to lay beyond their biological ability and affects their sleep. They need some darkness to rest their bodies. You'll get funky eggs from new and old layers; when it gets too hot they may lay funky eggs. You're doing the right thing by giving them free choice oyster shell. If it appear they eat it on their own, there isn't necessarily a need to mix it with their feed.

 

[cecilia00099]

I have a similar problem, with three out of my four chickens laying at night from the perch and rarely surviving the long drop! Two of these three are in their first season laying (it is the end of winter here in Australia) and I live in hope that their internal clocks will soon change and they discover the nest boxes. The oldest chicken (a Wheaten Maren) lays lovely dark brown thick shell eggs in the nest box, which the two younger ones are laying eggs with either thin shells or no shells -- just a membrane. The food I'm buying has shell grit mixed in and they also have an automatic feeder of just shell grit. I do hope this is only a temporary problem as it is so disheartening to have to fish out two or three broken eggs every morning.

 

[Will the chicken guy]

Hey there all. I have a flock of 12 chickens, 18 weeks old tomorrow. I believe 4 or 5 of my chickens have started laying... one white leghorn(easy to identify, because she’s the only one throwing white eggs) and either some or all of my four Easter Eggers(all the other eggs have been green, not sure yet who is laying which).

For the most part, they’ve all been in the nesting boxes with one accidentally laid outside(the white leghorns first, I think it surprised her ) and one on the poop board under the roosts. That was a weird one, but as I never found one there again, I figured it was a fluke as well. It was a normal egg, hard shelled and uncracked/unblemished so it didn’t seem to have been dropped from the roost.

Today, I found a surprise on the poop board. Almost in the same spot, there were two eggs. Fully formed with very thin shells... like papery and see through. One was burst open, the other was very badly cracked and only just held together with the inner membrane.

Since these hens are brand new layers, I know they may still be getting in a rhythm... but to find two separate layings? I’m worried one chicken might be laying on the roosts... does that even happen???

I'm not sure if it does happen but start giving them oyster shell

 

[Whigru]

This post was helpful as I just experienced a very similar thing this morning! One egg was half-gone (eaten, maybe?) and all was left was some broken yolk in the half of shell that was laying on the coop floor. The other egg right next to it was very thin shelled and slightly dented/cracked. I only have one pullet laying and she just started 3 days ago so I am figuring/hoping it’s just some kinks in her system.

 

[Stephanie8806]

I don't usually consider them a "waste." If I get a soft shelled egg that isn't covered in poop and didn't bust, I eat it for breakfast! I haven't died yet.

Ha! Noted. I gave the unburst one to the dog. He was a happy camper it won’t feel like a waste, I think, if it happens down the road when all my 12 girls are laying steadily, but since I’m not leaving with handfuls of eggs yet, it feels worse

 

[Stephanie8806]

I'm not sure if it does happen but start giving them oyster shell

They have a free choice oyster/eggshell mix

 

[Mo'sMenagerie]

I have a similar problem, with three out of my four chickens laying at night from the perch and rarely surviving the long drop! Two of these three are in their first season laying (it is the end of winter here in Australia) and I live in hope that their internal clocks will soon change and they discover the nest boxes. The oldest chicken (a Wheaten Maren) lays lovely dark brown thick shell eggs in the nest box, which the two younger ones are laying eggs with either thin shells or no shells -- just a membrane. The food I'm buying has shell grit mixed in and they also have an automatic feeder of just shell grit. I do hope this is only a temporary problem as it is so disheartening to have to fish out two or three broken eggs every morning.

Guess this is a common problem since I have almost the exact issue as @Stephanie8806. I have 5 pullets mixed in with my mature flock of 15, two of which are laying regularly in the nest boxes, and their shells are hard and beautiful. But I'm getting 2 paper thin shelled eggs bursted on the poop board every 2-3 nights for the past couple weeks. The 3 pullets who could be the culprits are all blue or green egg layers, and the shells on the busted eggs don't have a tint to them so I'm not 100% sure they are coming form my pullets . Very frustrating and curious.