Egg with no shell???

[Judiv]

My gray Ameraucana that usually lays blue eggs laid this egg, no shell-just membrane- DURING THE NIGHT under the roost, not in the egg box! Her shells are thinner than the other hens in spite of trying to feed her more OS and ES. They were all acting weird yesterday freaked out about out first snowfall, but she finally got in the nest box 30 min before dark, not enough time to lay, so she roosted with the others. Only been laying about 3 weeks.
Help! Any ideas or suggestions?? Thank you......ok, update..... about 10 min after getting up and out and getting a quick breakfast and drink, she got back in the egg box. 20 min later.....A BROWN EGG!!! What the?????? WHAT'S GOING ON???

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Her shells are thinner than the other hens in spite of trying to feed her more OS and ES. They were all acting weird yesterday freaked out about out first snowfall, but she finally got in the nest box 30 min before dark, not enough time to lay, so she roosted with the others. Only been laying about 3 weeks.

Congratulations on the eggs!

Since she has just come into lay, she's likely not worked out all the kinks.
Disturbances/stress can affect egg laying as well.
I would mark this one up as a glitch.

Are the OS and ES free choice? Some birds just won't eat them. Some birds, in spite of eating plenty of calcium seem to have thinner shells...I would give her a bit more time to see if the quality improves.

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/common-egg-quality-problems

 

[Judiv]

Congratulations on the eggs!

Since she has just come into lay, she's likely not worked out all the kinks.
Disturbances/stress can affect egg laying as well.
I would mark this one up as a glitch.

Are the OS and ES free choice? Some birds just won't eat them. Some birds, in spite of eating plenty of calcium seem to have thinner shells...I would give her a bit more time to see if the quality improves.

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/common-egg-quality-problems

Thanks. OS is free choice, ES a little offered daily targeting her primarily. Moderate interest in both. Thank you for the words of wisdom.... I'll let her work out the kinks and not be a worry wart.

 

[DobieLover]

Thanks. OS is free choice, ES a little offered daily targeting her primarily. Moderate interest in both. Thank you for the words of wisdom.... I'll let her work out the kinks and not be a worry wart.

I agree with @Wyorp Rock that it is likely a new layer glitch.
However, it's still tough for the pullet to lay a softie or shell-less egg. I lost over 2 dozen eggs in the early days of my 15 pullets coming into lay last fall.
I would take oyster shell and mix it up with Greek yogurt. Not a lot. Just enough to coat the pieces then I sprinkled that around their pen. EVERYONE ate that. I did that about every three days for several weeks and had no more shell-less eggs.
Ironically, this morning someone dropped a softie off the roost and I found one of the girls picking at it when I went to clean the poop boards. So I sprinkled some OS directly into their food this morning.
Your girl should be fine but I would try to tempt her with the yogurt coated OS. If they've never had yogurt before just start with introducing that. Once they realize that they really like yogurt, then mix it with the OS.

 

[Judiv]

I agree with @Wyorp Rock that it is likely a new layer glitch.
However, it's still tough for the pullet to lay a softie or shell-less egg. I lost over 2 dozen eggs in the early days of my 15 pullets coming into lay last fall.
I would take oyster shell and mix it up with Greek yogurt. Not a lot. Just enough to coat the pieces then I sprinkled that around their pen. EVERYONE ate that. I did that about every three days for several weeks and had no more shell-less eggs.
Ironically, this morning someone dropped a softie off the roost and I found one of the girls picking at it when I went to clean the poop boards. So I sprinkled some OS directly into their food this morning.
Your girl should be fine but I would try to tempt her with the yogurt coated OS. If they've never had yogurt before just start with introducing that. Once they realize that they really like yogurt, then mix it with the OS.

Ok, thanks!! I'll try that!

 

[aart]

I mix the OS and ES.
Have had to sprinkle just a few pieces of OS on top of feed for new layers that don't 'get it' yet....or just sprinkle it out on the coop floor(some under the shell feeder) or run.

Are they on layer feed, and/or......
What all and how exactly are you feeding?

Wonders about the blue and brown eggs.
Same bird can't lay both.

 

[Judiv]

They've been on layer feed and OS available separately since around 20 weeks. Will definitely try encouraging the OS more as you suggested.
I now guessing the brown egg that appeared belonged to someone that laid super early or during the night (?? Would they do that??) Because the snow has them so freaked out (scared to walk to the coop/egg box) during the day.
Can't thank everyone enough for the wisdom & advice! I'm a newbie trying to take good care of my girls.

 

[aart]

I now guessing the brown egg that appeared belonged to someone that laid super early or during the night (?? Would they do that??)

Yep, new layers can lay any time of the day or night, until they get everything smoothed out....which can take up to a month or so.

Because the snow has them so freaked out (scared to walk to the coop/egg box) during the day.

Are they free ranging and getting 'stranded' due to the snow?

 

[Judiv]

Yep, new layers can lay any time of the day or night, until they get everything smoothed out....which can take up to a month or so.

Are they free ranging and getting 'stranded' due to the snow?

Yes, free range during the day. Never occurred to me they would freak out at an inch of snow accumulation. But this was the first time for them. We're in SC. They had food and water but couldn't get to the coop for 3 hours till I made a path.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Yes, free range during the day. Never occurred to me they would freak out at an inch of snow accumulation. But this was the first time for them. We're in SC. They had food and water but couldn't get to the coop for 3 hours till I made a path.

LOL!!