I have been finding smashed soft shelled eggs on the coop floor in about the same spot for the last 2 weeks. I find one about every other day or so. I think the other girls smash it and eat it. I know for sure that 4 out of the 6 of them lay their eggs in the nest boxes. The hen that is most suspect is my dom that has vision problems. Maybe she can't find the oyster shell? We feel that her vision problems are genetic, She also has an odd shaped comb, that she's had since the vision issues. She can't get up to the roosts, we have to put her up at night. One thing making me scratch my head about it, the egg is always on the opposite side she is on and she's still up there when I find the egg. This makes me think it is one of the other girls. or the others move her egg to the other side. I have no issues with them eating their eggs. I have another dom that I haven't confirmed her laying an egg in the nest box yet. The two doms are both 20 wks old. I have found dom feathers in the nest boxes so I know the one that can see has been in it. If it is the dom with vision problems is there anything I can do to help her. She has no signs of illness, never has. I hope it's not another genetic " flaw" in her to always lay soft eggs.
Brand new layers can do this, as can an ill chicken. We had a brown leghorn with the sneezes and for 3 days out of 5, found broken soft shelled eggs on the floor of the coop. Shot her up with Tylan and no more soft shell eggs. No more eggs at all, actually. I'm thinking that her system was thrown out of whack when she got sick, and the last few eggs already in the pipeline ended up wrong, and then she quit completely, and won't start again until she's over the shock of having a giant fat guy stab her 3 days in a row with a needle in the breast....
Its normal but, I mix the grit and oyster shells into the feed. That way I know they are eating it. There are also lots of calcium filled treats you can give them. Yogurt and greens are always good. My first eggs have been perfect so far but, I know its common to have soft shells.
Confirmed that it is not the dom with vision problems. I found another one this morning, looks like it was laid on the roost and fell down. There is egg whites dripping down. I wish I could catch whoever it is in action. I will mix some oyster shell in their food. How long can this go on before getting worried? It's been happening for over 2 weeks now. A few of them have been whole soft eggs, but still on the coop floor.
