New layer, some issues(soft shell, etc)

[Atlantakycklingar]

Hey guys, the last of my pullets is starting to lay(I think), and I'm going through some of the same ol' getting-things-at-the-new-egg-factory-sorted-out stuff.

I have two that are just firing up. One or both are having problems. First I found eggs just laid wherever on the ground or on the floor of the coop, like they just pop out whenever and let gravity do its thing. Secondly, I found an egg on the floor of the coop with a soft shell that was broken. Thankfully they didn't find it and eat it(don't want to develop egg eaters).

So the red sex link that I thought was laying fine(a small brown egg) laid a weird light egg that was misshapen this morning. Happened to be the same color as the egg that was in the middle of the yard, which I thought was my black sex link. If I had to guess though, I think the red sex link is laying fine and in the nest, and just had a weird white egg, and the black is the one having the problems.

I have free choice oyster shell, and the chickens have free range full time(during the day). Is it important that I figure out who's laying what or will they pretty much figure everything out on their own? Thanks in advance!

 

[BuffOrpington88]

The soft shell and the eggs laid wherever are probably fine. It's just cause they haven't laid before. The laying eggs in different places is probably because they don't realize they what the nesting boxes are for yet.

I'm not quite sure about the different colors.

 

[Attila the Honey]

I had the same thing happen today. I have a plastic patio table in the run for shade and another place to get out of the rain. My youngest pullets like to hang out on the table. I found a smallish egg on the table today. I went to pick it up and found it to be very soft. It is like there is no shell, just the membrane. Very weird.

 

[DOnSoCalOC]

Did you put "fake" eggs in the nesting boxes? I got that idea from another thread and used it. This "taught" them "where" to lay and it worked! On occasion I get an egg in the coop on the floor, has only occurred 2-3 times. On the norm they all run into the nesting boxes and lay.

I also read to keep them inside the coop/run area, no free ranging, for about a week, so that they learn to lay where the fake eggs are.

Best to y'all!

Peace.