Eggs with no shell but I'm hopeful it's a good thing! *UPDATE*

[Mtn Laurel]

I purchased my hens a little over a month ago - on June 18th - two red sex links that had just come into laying age and two older black sex link hens that had been laying a while. Think the blacks are just about a year old.

Got them home and was hit with the first of three intense heat waves about two days later. The red's weren't bothered by the move or heat, they began laying in the nesting boxes almost immediately. But nothing from the black gals in all this time! The heat waves have now broken and yesterday was cool and rainy.

This morning I found one egg without any shell at all and a second egg with a rubbery shell. Both were found on the poop-board. I know these were from the blacks as the red's lay in the boxes and it's too early in the day for them to lay.

I'm hopeful this means that the black gals are coming out of their egg-hibernation and are revving up to start laying. They are fed layer pellets and I offer oyster shell but none of them seem to like it at all. I immediately offered more oyster shell and some dried/crushed egg shells this morning.

I'm feeling hopeful and excited but cautious! Could this mean that the girls have finally turned the corner and are getting in gear to start laying again?

 

[ChickyBoy417]

Well, laying with no shell or a weak one is not a good sign i can tell you that. Keep feeding them oyster crumbles. I am no doctor so there is not much i can say. If it continues after a week or so, tell someone.

 

[ChickyBoy417]

Yes, this does mean they will start laying eggs.

 

[Mtn Laurel]

I realize that if the eggs without shells continue that I then have a problem BUT my hope is that this means that they are re-gearing for egg production after such a long hiatus. Their diet should be adequate for shell production as the red gal is having no problem and they're all eating the same thing and foraging in the same place.

Fingers crossed that this is a sign of eggs with shells to come!

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

It seems like a sign. But it seems more probable they would be laying tiny eggs then no eggs, but just be watching for more eggs!!! (with shells)

 

[Cotton42]

I just had 4 Orpingtons start laying and 2 of them laid soft shelled eggs in the middle of the night to start out. They are now laying in the nesting boxes and I have not had a soft shelled egg in over a week. Congrats on your new layers!!

 

[krysta73]

i have had a couple BIG eggs with "soft shells" i think, if you put pressure on them they would break for sure, im wondering if the soft shelled eggs are ok to eat?

 

[Cotton42]

Soft shelled eggs are fine to eat.

 

[Mtn Laurel]

Sure enough, it was a good thing!

Two day's after the no-shell and soft shell eggs, one of the gal's laid a beautiful egg with a lovely dark brown very solid shell. Now, for the other gal to come on board! ^_^

 

[Cotton42]

Sure enough, it was a good thing!

Two day's after the no-shell and soft shell eggs, one of the gal's laid a beautiful egg with a lovely dark brown very solid shell. Now, for the other gal to come on board! ^_^

Congrats!!!