Mysterious egg layed by a

[Ab1010]

I took in some old chickens. The owners were not sure of the age but guessed 7. They are bantam cochins for reference. Ive never seen an egg from them, but tonight I found one tiny light egg where they sleep. It was so soft and tiny I was scared that if I picked it up it would break in my hands. Should I be worried? I don't want one to break inside them and they get sick..

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Are you sure it was soft and not just you thought it was soft because it was tiny?

 

[Aapomp831]

I wouldn’t worry; 7 year old chickens are way past their laying prime and their bodies are no longer functioning like they did as younger, egg laying chickens. Their life expectancy is only about 8 to 10 years, so I’m shocked that you even got that. You probably won’t see any more, and if you do I wouldn’t expect them to be anything other than wonky.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I wouldn’t worry; 7 year old chickens are way past their laying prime and their bodies are no longer functioning like they did as younger, egg laying chickens. Their life expectancy is only about 8 to 10 years, so I’m shocked that you even got that. You probably won’t see any more, and if you do I wouldn’t expect them to be anything other than wonky.

I wouldn't say that it's probably the last egg from them. I have several hens around the end of their time still laying almost every day. My Cochin is the same age if not a year older and she's laying enough eggs to have her own clutch 2x this summer

You can try seeing if they want eggshell. It's light enough that it's used quickly and they won't over eat if you offer free choice

 

[aart]

I took in some old chickens. The owners were not sure of the age but guessed 7. They are bantam cochins for reference. Ive never seen an egg from them, but tonight I found one tiny light egg where they sleep. It was so soft and tiny I was scared that if I picked it up it would break in my hands. Should I be worried? I don't want one to break inside them and they get sick..

Do you have any other chickens?
Always good to take some pics of any oddities you find.
Pics of whole egg with a quarter coin for scale reference,
and then open it up and take some more pics.
Otherwise we are just guessing.

 

[Ab1010]

Are you sure it was soft and not just you thought it was soft because it was tiny?

Oh no it was soft. I picked it up and it was like jello. It was laid where they sleep completely away from the rest of my flock. Its a roo and two hens and they do their own thing. I would have taken pictures but it was dark outside and I was more curious to open it up and see the inside.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Might have just been a shell less egg. I have a hen that's really sensitive to calcium levels being too low and she lays them all the time