leather eggs, how long till it gets better? pic included

[pattgal]

We didn't know were supposed to start layer pellets a month before production. we got our first egg last night around 6pm then later in the night one got dropped from the roost with the same leather feel. I really shouldn't say leather at all since there is absolutely no shell.
Can i go without the oyster shells and feed them eggshells, or do I need to give them oyster shells? i don't know if there is any way of knowing if the same hen layed the second egg ir if it was a different hen

 

[Humble Homesteader]

As far as I know, you really shouldn't feed the hens egg shells unless they are really crushed up fine. I feed them ground ouster shells mainly because I don't want them to get the taste for the egg shells. Some chickens will start eating the fresh eggs...

 

[jessaw1981]

If you feed them layer ration they should get what they need from that. You migjt want to give them the oyster shell because the have not been getting enough.

 

[danischi24]

Breathe! Don't worry, this is perfectly normal

New layers take awhile to adjust & you will get some really funky eggs for the next few weeks. It has nothing to do with your food though you should start them on the layer food so that they have the enough calcium etc for laying eggs for many years! Congrats & good luck

 

[acid_chipmunk]

Yes, you can feed them back their eggs shells. Just make sure that they are dried out and crushed up fine like the oyster shell is. We have given egg shells to our girls since they started laying and haven't had an egg eating problem yet.

 

[jrudolph305]

We dry the egg shells in an oven, pulverize them in a food processor--almost sand like--and add them to their morning oatmeal. For 5 hens I add about 1 TBS to the oatmeal. So far only a couple problem eggs.

 

[pattgal]

I have decided not to buy the oyster shells. I have dried eggshells from all winter sitting in a bucket (very dry) and crushed fine
Ive been feeding it to them for a week now, maybe that wasn't enough? How many eggs till I get a shell on it?

 

[rosiethechicken]

I am not sure if the soft shell eggs for beginners are due to lack of calcium.
Our chickens freerange and my experience (first time raising chicken)
has been that first few days (upto a week) were soft shells
now all 5 girls are laying normal shell egss (although color varies widely).

My theory is that they are working through the system.
Its also my observation that they drop shellless eggs from roost
rather than laying carefully in the nestbox.

Ofcourse, if you offer oyster shells, even better.