Egg laying issues... Soft shell and deformed eggs

[Kirstie1978]

Hi everyone.
I've had a fun run the past few months with my 2 chicks starting to lay. I had a 2 year old bantam polish frizzle who was poorlY and then killed by something and I have currently a 7mont bluebell, 7month warren and a 6yr bantam silkie.
The silkie hasn't been laying since I lost the frizzle really, although there are some pale grainy soft shelled eggs that are being laid I think might be from here, They are small and pale but appear darker than her usual white eggs, however I am getting a large egg every other day and a deformed small egg every other day plus a soft shelled mush in the coop!
I will try add photos of the deformed eggs. They are bantam size but dark hence thinking they must be from the warren. They sometimes have raised bumps on them, suggesting excess calcium (I added calcium to help with soft shelled eggs but to no avail.
So it appears the bluebell is fine, the warren has deformed raised bumps on her eggs like granules and big creases/ and weird shapes and the silkie is laying soft shelled,
Any ideas on what is the best way forward to stop this happening and if there are any concerns I should be looking out for? I have had chickens for 6 years and my silkie was my first at a day old and having lost the frizzle I hatched out don't want to have anymore issues as I have had a bad run with loosing chicks to weird and wonderful illnesses over the years.

Any advise or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

For birds just coming into lay it's normal for deformed, soft, double shelled and you name it eggs to come out of them. As for the 6 year old Silkie, I'd be amazed and greatful she even laid an egg even if soft. I'm guessing they are not from her. As long as they have access to calcium either with layer feed or supplied via oyster shell your all set. The oddball laying will stop soon enough.

 

[Kirstie1978]

Thank you. Yeah the bantam silkie was laying and broody a couple of months ago! I have one egg from her the past couple of weeks, I was just worried about issues with eggs causing them problems. That was my main concern. They have layers pellets, a special mash as well and oyster shell/grit mix too

 

[Nochickenpro]

I have three hens that were given to me last fall. Some of their flockmates had been taken/killed by predators prior to them coming to me. They have not laid any eggs for us up until this past week. At least i presume they are laying eggs, however the first one i found no shell but the one discovered this morning had a very soft shell. They getl laying crumble, oyster shell and grit are available to them all the time. What am i doing wrong?

 

[Kirstie1978]

Mine have settled down now. I added a bit of extra calcium to the water and all 3 are laying now. I'm not sure what else to suggest, sorry

 

[Backyard Hencam]

I actually didn't know you could add calcium to the water. Does it come in liquid form?

 

[Kirstie1978]

There's lots of avian supplements available in powdered form or water soluble. I have a multivitamin one I use as well I was given it by the shop in a sample and mix 1ml/L. He out it In a clear bottle so can't give you the name

 

[aart]

I have three hens that were given to me last fall. Some of their flockmates had been taken/killed by predators prior to them coming to me. They have not laid any eggs for us up until this past week. At least i presume they are laying eggs, however the first one i found no shell but the one discovered this morning had a very soft shell. They getl laying crumble, oyster shell and grit are available to them all the time. What am i doing wrong?

New layers often lay soft or thin shelled eggs...can take up to a month or so for things to smooth out.

 

[taydelkin]

For birds just coming into lay it's normal for deformed, soft, double shelled and you name it eggs to come out of them. As for the 6 year old Silkie, I'd be amazed and greatful she even laid an egg even if soft. I'm guessing they are not from her. As long as they have access to calcium either with layer feed or supplied via oyster shell your all set. The oddball laying will stop soon enough.

 

[SuperChickRuth]

Hi, I've got a question.

What about a 3 year old hen "laying" soft shelled, and leathery shelled eggs?

I say, "laying" because she was trying to lay it, but I guess it broke inside of her, and only the leathery shell and egg white came out.

Any advice? Will calcium help her?