Pullet and shell-less eggs

[Vanilla Gorilla]

So I have a 5 month old Cuckoo Marans pullet - she laid her first egg last Sunday, and another one the next day. I thought "hooray!" However, since then she has been dropping shell-less eggs all over the place, usually one a day. I've found one in the coop under the roost, one in the run by the water, and one in the sand where the girls like to take dust baths.

I don't know if I'm overreacting, and I know pullets can have a few issues getting going, I just thought it was weird that she started out fine, and then has almost been treating the eggs like she just needs to poo somewhere.

I have them eating grower feed still, and I have oyster shell available - I don't know if she's eating it or not, but someone in there is sure getting into it.

I also realize it's getting to that time of year when hens may stop or slow down their laying. Do I have cause for concern? Or is this normal behavior?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Pretty unremarkable for a young, new layer......id not be terribly concerned just yet were she my bird.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

It can be a lot of things. But, if she is laying she should be on layer feed. She may not be eating the oyster shell yet. Sometimes if the weather is too hot and they are just starting to lay the stress will cause them to expel a "witch egg", or shell-less egg. Also, predators lurking in the area can scare them and cause them to expel their egg.

She should settle down soon, or you can give her some Nutri Drench vitamin supplement for an extra boost. Some goodies like a meal of cooked grains: brown rice, wheat berries, oat groats etc., with some scambled eggs, can help too.
God Bless!

 

[aart]

So I have a 5 month old Cuckoo Marans pullet - she laid her first egg last Sunday, and another one the next day. I thought "hooray!" However, since then she has been dropping shell-less eggs all over the place, usually one a day. I've found one in the coop under the roost, one in the run by the water, and one in the sand where the girls like to take dust baths.

I don't know if I'm overreacting, and I know pullets can have a few issues getting going, I just thought it was weird that she started out fine, and then has almost been treating the eggs like she just needs to poo somewhere.

I have them eating grower feed still, and I have oyster shell available - I don't know if she's eating it or not, but someone in there is sure getting into it.

I also realize it's getting to that time of year when hens may stop or slow down their laying. Do I have cause for concern? Or is this normal behavior?

I believe that soft shell eggs do feel like a poop, why they drop them all over. I've also seen bird act very strange when one is moving towards the exit.

Layers do not have to have layer feed...but they do need the calcium, as well as vitamins/minerals/amino acids to uptake and deposit that calcium.

Are you sure the CM is the one dropping all the softies?
Do you have other young pullets near onset of lay?

With new pullets that don't have older birds to learn how to eat from the oyster shell jar, I sprinkle a half dozen pieces on top of feed in the morning for a couple days.