Newly laying hens, strange egg...

[zanelee]

So here is what I found in the nestbox this morning. I've anxiously been awaiting my newer hens to start laying. This is the first.
I've had strange eggs come our of newly laying hens before, but nothing quite like this. The shell is very thin, and there is a coating of...something...on it. In the picture, the top length has fluid in it, then the middle appears to have normal egg insides. The bottom "tail" looks like a tube. Anything I should do? Supplement?
They eat a regular laying pellet, along with any bugs they can find. Kitchen scraps and some greenery. Unfortunately they cannot get as much greenery as I'd like. They can no longer free range in our yard thanks to a roving pit bull that likes to break into our yard and play with the goat. (Yes, you heard that right-they are buds)
Hoping that it's nothing wrong with the hen that laid this.
TIA!

 

[Outpost JWB]

It looks like the hen struggled laying the egg. The reason it is thin is that she needs calcium (crushed oyster shell, or crushed egg shells). Hope that helps. I have never seen one like that though. We do occasionally get a soft egg. Then I just give them all oyster shell at feed time.

 

[ThePRfan]

This is soemthing new layers go threw.I wouldn't think anythings wrong,doubtful it was a struggle,but you never know.New layers aren't use to it.Best it to start giving oyster shells.This makes the shells harder and more likely NOT to break if fallen or pecked.

 

[ThePRfan]

Is it soft?It looks like the egg sack.My hen was not a new layer,but at 1 point the sack was just hanging out.I came to the rescue pulling it out.It did hurt her.Your's on the other head is just a simply new laying hen.I can't remember my hens doing that(the new timers)but my ducka most defintly did have soft eggs.After so long it wore off.My first hen to lay was my dear Mrs.Prissy who laid a hard shelled egg.Mines free ranged.Try that if this keeps happening.

 

[iwiw60]

It looks like the hen struggled laying the egg. The reason it is thin is that she needs calcium (crushed oyster shell, or crushed egg shells). Hope that helps. I have never seen one like that though. We do occasionally get a soft egg. Then I just give them all oyster shell at feed time.

Oyster shell should be available to your hens on the side at all times 24/7. Just keep a container of it next to their layer feed...they will eat it as needed.

 

[Outpost JWB]

Oyster shell should be available to your hens on the side at all times 24/7. Just keep a container of it next to their layer feed...they will eat it as needed.

Tried that. The roosters eat up the oyster shell and the hens get none. I give it to them on a regular basis and have only had 2 soft shelled eggs in over 2 years.