New pullet layer acting oddly...

[chickfused]

What all and how exactly are you feeding?

I don't control their feeding or drinking. They free range. They have free access to as much organic grower ration as they want, as well as granite and oyster grit.

 

[chickfused]

Milk will just cause diarrhea, so better supply some calcium citrate tablets, or even better calcium + vitamin D3 + vitamin K.

I gave them some cold milk a few times on the 100+ degree days, and there were no ill effects, though they seemed happier and less droopy/panty. I'll keep an eye out if it gets hot enough that this seems like a good idea again.

 

[chickfused]

Some chickens will lounge in nests after laying, so maybe she's doing something like that. Even though she's not laying she might still think she's laying, because these hormones are new to her, so she's going through the motions of going to the box, sitting there a bit, and then going on with her day. But as long as she's bright eyed and eating well and active I wouldn't worry about it at this time.

This describes eggsactly (ha!) what I'm seeing. Thank you

 

[chickfused]

And naturally, the day after I posted this, I just went to the coop, watched her eat some oyster shell, and then go into the nest box and lay a perfectly formed, double yolk egg.

Man. Chickens. They're like when you take your car to the mechanic...

 

[chickfused]

OK. So, after some more observation of soft shelled eggs and normal eggs, what I've realized is that when I get a soft egg, it's happening about 18-20 hours after the last normal egg happened. IE: She seems to be short cycling while she's sleeping and letting the egg out early. Which, ok, she's new to this whole business.

The question I have is are those last 4/6/8 hours enough to make an egg fully shelled and if she'd kept it in long enough, would this have been a normal egg? I know the shell comes last, but I don't know how fast it builds. Other than a thin, leathery shell (it's colored brown so I know the process is at least starting), it's a very perfect egg. Fertile too sometimes!

Also, this girl is so cute. There's still a fake egg in her nest for her slower to lay coopmates, and every time she goes to lay she pulls the nest material up around it, rolls it under her, settles it under her breast. It's adorable.

 

[aart]

The question I have is are those last 4/6/8 hours enough to make an egg fully shelled

IIRC to takes ~20 hours to shell the egg.

I think it's explained in this excellent video, which is worth watching regardless:

 

[chickfused]

IIRC to takes ~20 hours to shell the egg.

Thanks! Everything I read said it's between 24 and 28 hours for a cycle, that's why I was thinking this "short-cycling" has something to do with it. She lays between 11AM-1PM every day when I get a good egg, and on the following morning when there's a soft-shell egg under the roost it's around 6-7AM.

Edit: This video said 24 hours for start to finish, and 20 in the shell gland itself. Incredibly informative! That means in an 18 hour cycle, she's way ahead of schedule and supports my idea that it's not in the shell gland long enough vs something else going on. She's probably just figuring out how to hen. Funny thing is, even on days she splats an egg off the roost, off she goes to the nest box to pant and push for a bit from 11-1. No egg, but she tries!

Thank you!

 

[chickfused]

Does anyone know how long it takes for chickens coming "online" to get everything sorted out? I have two more starting to lay, and those are all soft eggs off the roost too as well as this one that seems to only lay a proper egg every 3rd time or so.

Like, when should I worry?

 

[aart]

Does anyone know how long it takes for chickens coming "online" to get everything sorted out?

They should have it together within a month.

 

[chickfused]

Well, we've got a couple weeks to go then. Thanks!