Hen laying soft eggs?

[SunriseChickers]

So I've been down a few weeks after injuring my ankle and my family has been taking care of my chickens. We've been getting four eggs a day, while we usually get six, until the last couple days of getting five. Yesterday my dad found that the most picked on hen, a smaller RIR, was laying soft eggs. As she was laying, the others were picking on her. Help! Is it stress or maybe a nutrition deficiency? She's always been picked on, and they just turned one year old this month so I'm sure it's not age. I haven't been with them much except yesterday, and she wasn't displaying any signs of sickness. Until a couple months ago they were free range, but they've been in their pen so the yard is clean for the Fourth of July. Anyone have tips on what to do or what it might be?

Sorry the picture isn't any better, it's all I could get.

 

[TooCheep]

The general solution for thin/soft egg shells or stopping shells entirely is to offer some form of calcium (broken egg shells, oyster shell, etc) *on the side*. The hens will consume it as they feel the need. Don't mix it into the feed to so that non-layers or ones that don't need a higher dose can easily avoid it.

Hens take calcium from their own systems to produce egg shells. The original jungle fowl didn't lay nearly as many eggs as some breeds do now, so they were able to get enough calcium from their food. Heavy egg layers need more calcium which can come from layer mixes (don't feed it to non-layers) and/or calcium on the side.

 

[TooCheep]

A couple of additional thoughts. I still think that calcium is the proper answer for your immediate problem. However, keeping your birds cooped up when they are used to a larger area undoubtedly adds stress to the entire flock and especially the poor girl at the bottom of the pecking order.

I understand wanting to keep your yard in good shape for an event, but if you could add some temporary fencing and give them a small part of the yard that they could run around in for about an hour/day, that would do a lot to minimize the stress.

One final item: If they are used to free ranging, they had opportunities to find grit (small rocks/pebbles) which is an essential part of their digestive system. Since they are cooped up, please make sure you offer some grit, again on the side, so they can eat as they feel the need.

 

[SunriseChickers]

A couple of additional thoughts. I still think that calcium is the proper answer for your immediate problem. However, keeping your birds cooped up when they are used to a larger area undoubtedly adds stress to the entire flock and especially the poor girl at the bottom of the pecking order.

I understand wanting to keep your yard in good shape for an event, but if you could add some temporary fencing and give them a small part of the yard that they could run around in for about an hour/day, that would do a lot to minimize the stress.

One final item: If they are used to free ranging, they had opportunities to find grit (small rocks/pebbles) which is an essential part of their digestive system. Since they are cooped up, please make sure you offer some grit, again on the side, so they can eat as they feel the need.

Thanks! I got some crushed oyster today and gave it to them, as they all have softer eggshells. They've been in the pen for about a month and a half by now, but they get to go back to free ranging next Sunday after the event. I hate keeping them in there, but we can't have the outdoor party with poop everywhere. I'll have to bring up the topic of adding on more fencing for extra space. My family likes the idea of a clean yard, and I do too, but they aren't fond of their pen and I hate it when they're unhappy. I got netting on Christmas for keeping Hawks out, but we haven't put it up yet. Our yard is enormous, so there's plenty of space to expand, but our family has a dozen projects already. I like seeing my girls happy, so I do what I can. I'm siftng sand for a dust bath tomorrow, since they no longer have the dirt and sand in the backyard. Once they're out they'll have grit, but I can give them some. Thanks for your help. This is my first flock and I can't do it all on my own.

 

[Cluckingitup]

@SunriseChickers - I am also new to raising chickens, but my chickens are only let out about an hour before sundown each night. My run is made from outside dog kennels with some predator proofing from hardware cloth. (Kennels are used off yard sale sites) I also have 4 foot fencing that is from Lowes that comes in roll that provides a little extra room during day when I am not ready to let them roam. The days I work they stay just in kennel area. - the picture doesn't show the extra fencing area. I also have 2 older birds in the empty fencing area now- trying to integrate them. It's slow going.

 

[SunriseChickers]

Getting six a day again, thank goodness. Thanks for the suggestions.

@SunriseChickers - I am also new to raising chickens, but my chickens are only let out about an hour before sundown each night. My run is made from outside dog kennels with some predator proofing from hardware cloth. (Kennels are used off yard sale sites) I also have 4 foot fencing that is from Lowes that comes in roll that provides a little extra room during day when I am not ready to let them roam. The days I work they stay just in kennel area. - the picture doesn't show the extra fencing area. I also have 2 older birds in the empty fencing area now- trying to integrate them. It's slow going. View attachment 1827724

Nice! Mine's just a 24x36 pen with two coops, one for summer and one for winter. They are let out in the mornings once again and happily follow us around.