one year old chickens laying soft eggs

[Karen70]

I've had chickens for 9 years and 4 different groups. My chickens have all of a sudden started laying soft shelled eggs. I'm down to 2 chickens that are a year old since a mink got into the coop and killed my other 5 about 6 months ago. I want to get this figured out before I get some more chickens. I've had them lay soft eggs before but usually only their first egg then they lay normal eggs. They're a year old now. I'm wondering if this has happened to anyone else. It's been 8 days, I've gotten 5 no shell and 4 perfect eggs (can't tell who's laying which I'm gonna separate them tonight) Diet seems fine....definite change in amounts from 7 chickens to 2 but I'm really trying to keep it balanced. I've always given them oyster shells... never see them eat them but they disappear. Any suggestions?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Eggs without shells is usually from stress. Did you lose the others recently? That would be stressful and cause eggs to come out before the shell is applied.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Since its been 5+ months since the attack its likely something else.

Any molting? Any feed change? Did the manufacturer change the formula? How many treats are they getting?

Could there be predators hanging about keeping them on edge?

Have you had a fecal test run to rule out internal parasites? Any signs of external parasites?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Since its been 5+ months since the attack its likely something else.

Any molting? Any feed change? Did the manufacturer change the formula? How many treats are they getting?

Could there be predators hanging about keeping them on edge?

Have you had a fecal test run to rule out internal parasites? Any signs of external parasites?

Boy I gotta read better. I thought I read 5-6 month old chickens, but now can clearly see the 6 months ago.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Boy I gotta read better. I thought I read 5-6 month old chickens, but now can clearly see the 6 months ago.

I didn't even see that was you up there!

I sometimes have to read things a few times myself.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I didn't even see that was you up there!

I sometimes have to read things a few times myself.

Apparently my inner old person is coming out today.

 

[aart]

Diet seems fine... but I'm really trying to keep it balanced.

What all and how exactly are you feeding?
Could be birds are ramping down production to molt, if you live in the northern hemisphere.

Where in this world are you located?
Climate is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, then it's always there!

 

[Karen70]

Thank you everyone for the responses. I'm sorry it took me so long to get back on the computer....but life is busy....I believe it was stress also. I got a egg today. The only thing I've come up with is there are night critters taunting them when they're closed in at night. They're not molting and I feed them Purina egg layer. handful of scratch every other day and small amount of kitchen scraps and treats since there's only 2 chickens. try to keep treats about 10% of their diet. Just hoping tomorrow I'll get 2 eggs. We've kinda done a few things a keep critters off the coop. Always a challenge. I think they're too young to just stop laying so hoping this works..