First egg!!!! But not all of them are laying..

[ChickyNicky05]

I’m also slightly concerned because Khaleesi laid two double yolk eggs two days in a row, and this morning Lady laid three soft shell eggs (her first time laying).. am I doing something wrong? This seems unhealthy. I’m almost positive the soft ones came from Lady because she was in the nest all morning and all afternoon and was very loud all day. Could it just be because they are young/laying for the first time?

 

[Vratnyjulez]

How old are they? Wondering when mine will start laying

 

[ChickyNicky05]

How old are they? Wondering when mine will start laying

17ish weeks

 

[Vratnyjulez]

17ish weeks

Ok mine are about 15 weeks

 

[ChickyNicky05]

Ok mine are about 15 weeks

They were submitting when I walked up to them for about two or three weeks before we got our first egg, which was tiny! But very exciting!!

 

[redranger209]

It’s normal. Mix the oyster shells in the feed.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I would mix in a little oyster shell into the feed for maybe a week, just to see if that gets them interested in it. Mine eat them like potato chips - I can hear the crunch - so the size of the pieces shouldn't stop them from picking it up, but since it's something new your chickens may be confused as to what to do with it.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Like Rosemarythyme said.

Also toss some on the ground mixed with scratch grains. GC

 

[April’s Zoo]

I’m also slightly concerned because Khaleesi laid two double yolk eggs two days in a row, and this morning Lady laid three soft shell eggs (her first time laying).. am I doing something wrong? This seems unhealthy. I’m almost positive the soft ones came from Lady because she was in the nest all morning and all afternoon and was very loud all day. Could it just be because they are young/laying for the first time?

Do you just have the 2 chickens? It is unusual to have even young layers laying multiple eggs in the same day....
Double-Yolkers aren’t that unusual in new layers— quite common actually, as their bodies get the yolk release timing worked out.
You can get liquid calcium to give for a few days to the hen who you believe is laying soft shell eggs a little boost... alternatively, you can crush a Tums or two, or even crush and give Caltrate (human supplement) for a few days.
In the meantime, though, I recommend applying food coloring to the vent of the hens you think are laying the strange eggs. Use a different color for each hen. Then you’ll be able to see for sure who is laying which eggs, and how many they’re laying each day.

 

[ChickyNicky05]

Do you just have the 2 chickens? It is unusual to have even young layers laying multiple eggs in the same day....
Double-Yolkers aren’t that unusual in new layers— quite common actually, as their bodies get the yolk release timing worked out.
You can get liquid calcium to give for a few days to the hen who you believe is laying soft shell eggs a little boost... alternatively, you can crush a Tums or two, or even crush and give Caltrate (human supplement) for a few days.
In the meantime, though, I recommend applying food coloring to the vent of the hens you think are laying the strange eggs. Use a different color for each hen. Then you’ll be able to see for sure who is laying which eggs, and how many they’re laying each day.

We have three - I'm positive Raven is not laying at all, she doesn't submit when I go near her and her comb is not very bright in color, it's pretty dark still actually.. I guess it's possible that Khaleesi laid one of the three soft eggs but her first three were really perfect. One of the soft eggs was found under the roost and two were in the nesting box - I think that Lady and Khaleesi might have been fighting over one of the two nesting boxes because I heard some confrontation going on in there the other day before I found the three soft eggs.

What you said about the double yolk makes a lot of sense so I won't worry about that anymore, thank you!

I've been mixing in the oyster shells with their feed. There were no eggs when I left for work this morning but I think they are laying later in the morning anyways so I will have to wait until tonight when I get home to check again. HOPEFULLY there will be some nice hard shelled eggs for us!

When you say to add food coloring - do you just mean to drop a few drops on the outside of the vent? Wouldn't that come off when they go to the bathroom?