First Egg...squished??

[Cattie]

Hi All

I am new to this whole chicken thing...and need some input. We got our chickens a few months back and they were about 2 months old. The last week or so they have been nesting, so I knew anytime they would start laying. They are black star pullets. This morning I went down to give them some fresh water and one of the chickens jumped at me (unusual)...I looked into the coop and noticed a big lump of "stuff" under their roosting area. At first it just looked like a pile of chicken poop, but then I looked closer and saw there was something else there too. I picked it up (gross) and noticed it was a squished egg under the chicken poo...the egg itself seemed soft and the shell was white-ish in color (although I thought ours were going to be brown egg layers). Is this normal for the first egg? I am trying to find out if sometimes the first eggs are soft. Our hens eat a balanced layer pellet, so I am not sure if I should be adding anything else. Is there a reason the hen may not have used the nesting box to lay, and instead laid in the middle of the coop?

TIA
Cat

 

[gmendoza]

Its what we call a rubber egg. you need to feed them oyster shell.you can buy it at Tractor Supply.Costs around 6 bux.That should help.

 

[Cattie]

thank you!!! I will pick some up today

 

[SassyKat6181]

HI! My Black Sexlinks just started laying about 2 weeks ago (they're 25 weeks) My 1st egg was laid on the floor, but I hadn't put the nest boxes in. They are laying in the box now though, and the new layers are using the box also. The new eggs are quite small and very light brown, but as they lay more often, the eggs are getting darker and larger. Not sure about your soft egg as I haven't experienced this yet. I would say purchase some oyster shell and offer it free choice, or I have been mashing their egg shells and feeding it back to them. Good luck and congrats on your 1st egg!

 

[Cattie]

Thank you! We put in the nesting boxes a few weeks ago. We have the whole coop and nesting boxes filled with shavings, but I am thinking maybe if we add some straw to the nesting boxes we may have better luck. I am going to try the oyster shell as well. I can't wait to get an egg we can actually use

 

[AKsmama]

Hi! I have 16 Black Stars- we love them, they lay great as well as have fun personalities. A rubber egg laid from the roost is common in any breed that has just begun to lay- you may find a few more but that should correct itself as they become more experienced. The shell color will even out too. I agree, just offer crushed oyster shell free-choice and that will really help. Some "dummy eggs" in the nest boxes will help too, if you don't already have any. It can be golf balls or plastic Easter eggs- doesn't matter what color or size. We have one HUGE plastic egg in one of our boxes and another we have an empty Silly Putty egg.

Good luck!

 

[ailurophile23]

My nesting boxes are filled with just sawdust. I tried having some hay as well but the girls chucked it out and made a huge mess in the coop. You could also try putting a golf ball or two in the nesting box - that may give them the idea about laying there - it worked for my girls. Best of luck.
~Laura

 

[SassyKat6181]

I have hay in my boxes (same stuff we feed the horses) They have made nice little swirl pattern spots where they lay.

 

[Judy]

It will take them a month or so to get the egg laying thing right, both making a good egg and where to lay it. Just be patient and give them nice soft nests with golf balls or whatever for fake eggs. You will be rewarded with an excellent breakfast!

 

[Cattie]

OH!!! Didn't even think of the fake egg thing!!! good idea