Egg laying questions

[Ckm]

I have 6 RIR who are 5 months old. When I moved them to their coop from inside in April I was opening the coop around 5:30 but as sunrise has gotten later I have been opening it around 5:55-6:05. Sunrise is 6:30 or so by now. One of my chicks is already in the nesting box and has laid her egg shortly thereafter. Should I be opening at 5:30 or can I follow the sunrise. They are in a run not free ranged.

second question. Two days ago I found two very very soft shelled eggs ( laid by same chick I think as I got 5 other eggs later) and then yesterday one of the eggs had almost no shell- it was all liquid with a few cracked pieces of shell. They all seem fine, are eating and moving around. I don’t know who laid the eggs so I am sitting by their coop to try and see who lays which eggs. We did have really heavy rain, thunder and lightning both nights and days in question. Thoughts? Thanks

 

[3KillerBs]

I have read about people whose chickens lay on schedule at about the same time every day. My flock has never read the manual that says they're supposed to lay in the morning so they lay at any time. This morning I had a hen in the box when I went to check for early eggs when I opened up at about a quarter after 6. Some days I don't get eggs until late afternoon.

Young layers are prone to glitches in their system. A couple softies once in a while isn't an issue. It only becomes worrisome if it becomes a consistent problem.

Stress *can* cause egg issues. It doesn't hurt to make sure they've got adequate calcium. Do they have oystershell?

Sometimes my ladies will eat more oystershell if I add some fresh to the container or if I stir it up and pretend to add it fresh.

 

[Silexian]

I open my pop doors at the same time every morning. My chickens go back in the coop to lay, whenever they feel the urge to. I let them out to free range in the afternoon. I collect eggs when I go out to close up the runs and coops for the night.

 

[Ckm]

They

I have read about people whose chickens lay on schedule at about the same time every day. My flock has never read the manual that says they're supposed to lay in the morning so they lay at any time. This morning I had a hen in the box when I went to check for early eggs when I opened up at about a quarter after 6. Some days I don't get eggs until late afternoon.

Young layers are prone to glitches in their system. A couple softies once in a while isn't an issue. It only becomes worrisome if it becomes a consistent problem.

Stress *can* cause egg issues. It doesn't hurt to make sure they've got adequate calcium. Do they have oystershell?

Sometimes my ladies will eat more oystershell if I add some fresh to the container or if I stir it up and pretend to add it fresh.

have oyster shell in separate container which they seem to be eating some. I did just change their feed to an organic brand a day or so before this started. I have been sitting outside since 6 am reading and watching for who goes in coop to lay. Beats cleaning my kitchen which is top of today’s to do list so I am in no hurry fir them to lay but 5 of them have usually laid their eggs by 9:30 or so. Three eggs so far and all look fine. Thanks for your reply.