first egg nerves

[mbq]

Hi all! I have three pullets in the city and am so glad to have this community to whom to pose questions. Here's the first of many; today was the first egg day! I found it on the coop floor, broken and with a super soft shell. The pullets eat a layer mix but do they need oyster shells (or the like) too?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Welcome! I'm new too (but getting un-new fast), I started reading out here a long time ago.... Definite "best resource." Anyhow.... I just got my first 3 eggs this week and (hope not to brag) they are perfect! Hard shells.... So do your girls "range" at all? Mine get layer + ranging for a few hours each day. Other than that I gave them a bowl of yogurt for the first time they very day I got my first egg and put a bowl of oyster shells out with thier layer food a few days before the first one.... Do you have "soft" nest boxes so they wont get crushed? Pic of my first eggs: SO PROUD!!

 

[mbq]

Yes, the girls range pretty much all the day long, they have the run of the yard (minus my newly fenced gardens!). They eat kitchen scraps and their layer feed. Maybe some more calcium would help-- your eggs are so great looking! Congrats!

 

[Happy Chooks]

I'm new too. I have oyster shell for my pullets. I did get a soft shelled egg yesterday from my BR, but it was only her 2nd egg. From what I've read here, it's normal to get a soft one occasionally with new layers.

ETA: My other 3 that are laying have not laid any soft shelled eggs.