HELP!!!!!!!QUICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bluebee]

Hello all,
I am very new to BYC. I also had a very urgent question. I have three five month old chickens (a Black Australop, a Red Star, and a chicken that was SUPPOSED to be a Silver Laced Wyandotte but we still can't figure out what it is). Our Red Star started laying about five days ago. The eggs were perfect until today. In the morning she layed a perfect little egg as always, but then I found her in the evening stooping over a rubber egg and next to her was another rubber egg, but cracked. She looks really depressed and sad right now. Is this normal???????? Please answer quick i am very worried about her!

Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!
Bluebee

 

[Yay Chicks!]

Soft shelled eggs are not uncommon in new layers. They can be more difficult to lay sometimes, however. Just make sure that you offer some extra calcium in the form of oyster shell, or crushed egg shell on the side so that if they need it they will take it.
One of mine laid soft shelled eggs quite frequently her first laying season and then just seemed to grow out of it.

 

[Bluebee]

Yay Thank you!

Bluebee

 

[Bluebee]

Any other suggestions? Please add more info if you can!

Thank you!
Bluebee

 

[chickngal98]

When hens lay an egg, it comes out soft and then hardens when air hits it.... just make sure you have oyster shell out for them to feed on as a supplement or in my case, we grind our own feed and add limestone to it....I think it just happens with new hens....I have about 8 new hens that have been giving me cracked ones as well...they are new to the whole egg laying idea that it is stressful and confusing to them...they will outgrow that....just remember the limestone/oyster shell. Oyster Shell is available at farm stores and just put it in with their feed or put it in a container or pan next to their feed. Oyster Shell will make the eggshells solid!! Good Luck!!

 

[chickngal98]

Also, when new hens lay an egg...they freak out and notice it and can start pecking on it...i had some do that

 

[Bluebee]

Thank you so much!

 

[chickngal98]

I just went out to check for eggs and had a cracked egg!! Oh well, the cows ate it...lol

 

[Bluebee]

That's funny!

Very thankful for the help!

 

[chickngal98]

One day, I had a hen that was following me around while I was watering my newly planted trees. I sprayed some water on her and she in turned plopped an egg right out in front of me! It was the funniest thing ever to see! I think I cooled her down and in the process relaxed her! She spun around and I grabbed the egg before she could tap at it....