New to having back yard chickens

[RUGGEDDAD]

Was wondering if anybodys chickens lay soft eggs every now and then the last few days pretty sure just one of them has been laying broken or soft eggs we give them the organic laying pellets and we have that crushed shell stuff any suggestions would be much appreciated thanks

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

Once in a while it does happen. But it shouldn't be a common occurrence with any one bird. Young pullets first coming in to lay can lay thin shelled and soft shelled eggs. Older hens will frequently lay shell less eggs and thin shelled eggs for many reasons....can't absorb nutrients anymore, defective shell gland or even diseases of the reproductive system.

Here is an article from our learning center on common egg quality issues that might be of help...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/common-egg-quality-problems

You can also post this in our Egg Laying forums for more help with this too....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/18/chicken-behaviors-and-egglaying

I have heard some members complain about this sort of thing with organic feeds for some reason. Make sure to keep the treats to a dull roar so they are eating their layer feed and if they are free ranging, make sure they have plenty of opportunity to eat their layer food as well.

Good luck and I hope you can get this solved soon.

 

[gander007]

I put the old egg shells in the blender and add the chippings to the wet feed and it really makes a difference in the egg shell quality but my egg's take some to crack .......

 

[RUGGEDDAD]

I heard that sometimes they will start eating there eggs after u start feeding them egg shells

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC - great links from TwoCrows. Perhaps you can find your solution there. I doubt that crushed egg shells will cause any problem.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! TwoCrows gave you some great links to check out. X3 When you feed egg shells, just crush/break them up so they don't look like eggs and you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[drumstick diva]

Chickens wouldn't recognize ground up eggshells

What happens though is the soft shelled eggs break open and coincidentally a hen eats one and discovers they are delicious. Other hens follow suit and you can have a bunch of egg eaters on you hands. Not an easy habit to break