Leather eggs

[Chicken Marsala]

I have 5 BRs Over the past several months I Have found a dozen leather egg shells all over the yard and in the coop. One was in the water dish with the yolk and white in the water and the leather shell on the ground. It had to be laid while roosting. I have averaged 4 eggs a day and have had 5 only 6 times. I know which one it is and she appears healthy. Has anyone seen this before and what can fix it?

 

[tgooberbutt]

I'm interested to know too - I've been finding a few lately as well. Do they need better feed? More calcium? But my five chickens all have access to the same feed, and 2-3 are laying consistently...

Though a few are going through a molt now....

 

[sumi]

I'm assuming you mean leathery, soft shelled eggs? It could be a lack of calcium in their diet, oystershell offered on the side will help correct that. In some cases soft shelled eggs are caused by use of medicines, stress or disease. It is also more common with young layers who are still working out the kinks in their egg laying systems.

 

[RWise]

I found a leather egg (broken) under the roost a week or so ago, got excited because I have a pullet that should start anytime. But it now appears that it was my 2 1/2 almost 3 yo RIR, the pullet is simply not ready yet. Since that time when she lays an egg (her production has also dropped a bit) it is misshaped around the middle of the egg (stress). But I dont know why she would be stressed out, though there is another hen she does not like and puts both talons in her face if she gets near. Ground based predators would be rare here as I have Rat Terriers trained to hunt and kill rodents, flying predators I do have, chicken hawks and owls, they tend to not like the shotgun I try to take their picture with. I feed oyster shell as they want it, also I toast (then crumble) the egg shells and give them back (they prefer this), they are free range and get whole grains etc.
Definitely not my young girls dropping these so I will be watching here!
Could this just be the weather is colder than she likes?

 

[Chicken Marsala]

All my girls are free range all day. They flock together and eat the same food. I also give them their egg shells back with their food. No stress and the temp is not a factor since the first one I found was in September at 72 degrees. I,ve had 5 eggs 3 times since,but now (22-38 degrees) it's down to 2 eggs a day. Did find another leather today on the coop floor. I have red light on from 5:30-9pm and from 5-7am, but that is just for warmth.