Hen(s) layed first egg! One without a shell!?!?

[lablover]

Ok. When I called the chickens back to the coop, I noticed one missing. She was squatting behind a tree. She walked around slowly and I noticed a small white discharge. This is her.





I checked the nest box and saw a small pinkish brown egg. I was told that because she has a single comb that she will likely lay a white egg. But I do have 2 red sex links. They're a little younger than her though. So I cleaned the hay out and put fresh in. Tilly (pictured above) walked right up to the box along with one of the sex links. A few minutes later, I heard what sounded like the egg song, but I could tell if it was from the hens in the box or from the others down in the run. I left them to their business and checked back a few hours later to see Tilly on the roost and a shell-less egg. The sex link was laying in the box still.

So is everything normal? They're not on laying feed yet as I still have one hen younger than the rest by 2-3 weeks. Can I just put out oyster shells, or maybe even store bought egg shells? Do I need to clean the shell-less egg up tonight, or wait until tomorrow?

 

[Vicky2479]

It can happen from time to time with hens starting to lay, it is just there body getting things going, I would definitely be giving them some shell grit if you don't have any layer feed, they need that extra calcium. I know some people say not to give layer feed to hens that haven't started to lay yet but if they are close to it then I can't see a problem, all mine were put on layer before they started to lay on the advice of my feed guy and I haven't had any problems.
You can also give them extra cheese, yogurt and crushed egg shells (I just roll mine in paper towel, crush them by hand and dump them out the back door) the girls come running and eat the lot.
I would clean the egg up if the chickens haven't done it already, especially if it is the nest box, I do let my hens eat any broken eggs (i get the odd one as i let my 2yr old help collect the eggs sometimes) mine have never been in the coop though.

 

[Choco Maran]

Clean the egg up right away. You do not want them to start eating eggs. If they are laying I would get them on lay right away. The younger one will be fine on lay. I normal start my hens on lay about four weeks before they start so they have the calium they need for shells when they do start and I have never had a problem. I might also put out some oyster shell for them free choice

 

[lablover]

Well, I also have a rooster and I was told that the extra calcium in layer feed was not good for him. If I did switch to lay, would I just switch completely? I'm at the end of the grower feed anyways.

 

[Vicky2479]

I am not expert, I don't keep Roos, but from what I have read a lot of people have roosters and still feed them layer, the only other thing you can do is continue to feed them grower and serve the shell grit on the side, that way the hens can take what they want.
If both feeds are in pellet form you shouldn't have a problem just switching.