Irregular shaped softshell egg?

[Mountainbluebird]

I have 10 young pullets approaching laying age. Four have been laying healthy eggs, but I found 2 softshell eggs over the last week. I don't know who they were from, but I know its not uncommon for firstime layers, so I wasn't concerned.

However, today one pullet produced something that I've never seen before, and haven't found information online that quite matches the description.

One of my EEs who hasn't laid any [solid shelled] eggs yet was acting a little odd this evening, keeping away from the flock and just standing still. I kept checking in on her because she's usually a socialite, and then found her standing next to the insides of an egg: a normal looking yolk and whites, but no membrane or shell. I went to pick her up and she dropped a rubbery, irregular shaped thing that felt like the empty membrane of a softshell egg but was definitely not the shape of one. After that, she seemed to feel better and rejoined the flock.

I'm now wondering if both of the other softshell eggs were also hers.

Is this something that I should be concerned about, or just her body still trying to figure out the egg making process?

Edited to add: They are on layer Pellets with free choice oyster shells, freerange for a few hours in the evenings, and 3-4 days a week get fermented feed

 

[azygous]

As a matter of fact, just two weeks ago, I found exactly such a thing in my nest box. This is a fluke of the newly functional reproductive system when it happens in a novice layer. In my flock, though, this was from an aging layer whose system is running down.

In both cases, it's not necessarily something to be overly concerned about. But if you can identify who produced it, that hen bears watching for any signs she could be having reproductive problems.

This is what I recommend everyone keep in their run at all times to give to any hen exhibiting egg laying issues as soon as you recognize she's having them. One tablet directly in the beak each day until the issue resolves can work wonders to reset an egg cycle, boost calcium levels if egg shells are thin or not there at all, a stuck egg, double egg laying, etc. Get this at Walmart if in the US.

 

[Mountainbluebird]

As a matter of fact, just two weeks ago, I found exactly such a thing in my nest box. This is a fluke of the newly functional reproductive system when it happens in a novice layer. In my flock, though, this was from an aging layer whose system is running down.

In both cases, it's not necessarily something to be overly concerned about. But if you can identify who produced it, that hen bears watching for any signs she could be having reproductive problems.

This is what I recommend everyone keep in their run at all times to give to any hen exhibiting egg laying issues as soon as you recognize she's having them. One tablet directly in the beak each day until the issue resolves can work wonders to reset an egg cycle, boost calcium levels if egg shells are thin or not there at all, a stuck egg, double egg laying, etc. Get this at Walmart if in the US. View attachment 3215306

Thank you so much for the information and recommendation! I will grab some while I'm in town tomorrow. Hopefully my little pullet and your hen both level out comfortably.

Thanks again and have a great week!

 

[artbykarenehaley]

Looked like an empty sausage casing... Or something else
It's normal though. Young hens have a lot of parts that need to get working together

 

[Mountainbluebird]

Looked like an empty sausage casing... Or something else
It's normal though. Young hens have a lot of parts that need to get working together

This was my first pullet ever to take so long putting solid shells on her eggs. I've had a softshell egg here and there before with new layers, but hers went on for weeks! Shes finally laying normally now. They're the biggest, bluest eggs I've ever seen, so I think it was worth the wait (and cleanup)