Shellless eggs

[aggiemae]

If this doesn't stop in 1-1 1/2 months, she may have a disorder.

We have been dealing with this with our Buf Orp since early April It seems that she has some disruption in her cycle that causes her to form the yoke white and internal membrane every 8-12 hours but not having enough time to form a shell. We boosted her calcium and added vitamins to the water and now about every 2nd egg she lays has a very delicate shell.

 

[lazy gardener]

We have been dealing with this with our Buf Orp since early April It seems that he has some disruption in her cycle that causes her to form the yoke white and internal membrane every 8-12 hours but not having enough time to form a shell. We boosted her calcium and added vitamins to the water and now about every 2nd egg she lays has a very delicate shell.

that's not very encouraging!

 

[aggiemae]

As a last effort we ended up restricting her light to 12 hours a day and started giving her ground up egg shell, fish and eggs and also baby human vitamin drops. We hoped less light would slow the 2-3 times a day shell less egg laying down and after two days she was down to just one (still shell less) a day and the fourth day she finally produced one with a shell. We let her out three days ago and so far she is laying an egg a day still brittle but it appears she is going broody so I might let her sit to give her a real rest.

 

[plund]

One of my buff orps is laying shellless eggs. They are about 20 weeks now and she has been laying less than two weeks. The egg thing I guess will sort out but she used to be the leader of my small 4 pullet flock and now she tends to stay by herself. The other girls are laying daily daisy about every three days. And she is laying outside the coop ( they free range in my yard). I don't really care if she ever lays an egg but I want her to be happy and part of the crowd again. Is this something that happens or does she have a bigger problem? Thanks
Ps I am giving them layer crumbles and oyster shell

 

[aggiemae]

^^^ It's not uncommon for hens to lay a few shell less/ soft shelled eggs at first. Switching from oyster shells to crushed eggshells seemed to help with ours. Our soft shell layer is over a year old but is also a Buff Orp. Do you know where your's was hatched?

 

[mcarroll616]

I have been finding a shell less egg on the ground under the roost every morning. It looks like someone has been dropping it from the roost as night. They are new layers so I am trying not to be concerned!

 

[aggiemae]

I have been finding a shell less egg on the ground under the roost every morning. It looks like someone has been dropping it from the roost as night. They are new layers so I am trying not to be concerned!

That is usually how it happens since the shell less and soft shelled eggs just fall out like a poop and you really don't need to worry since the problem almost always sorts its self out. Do consider using crushed eggshells instead of crushed oyster shells. It's free and I know my hens really seem to prefer it.

 

[plund]

^^^ It's not uncommon for hens to lay a few shell less/ soft shelled eggs at first. Switching from oyster shells to crushed eggshells seemed to help with ours. Our soft shell layer is over a year old but is also a Buff Orp. Do you know where your's was hatched?

She came from ideal hatchery. I am giving her oyster shell. Thanks for your answer. I probably worry too much.

 

[nfwc1964]

Our speckle Sussex is usually a good egg layer with a nice shell, but 1wk ago laid an egg without shell or membrane. Then again today went out to check on her in the egg box - another egg blob, no membrane or shell. She is 14 months old.
Is this normal to happen?

 

[aggiemae]

Our speckle Sussex is usually a good egg layer with a nice shell, but 1wk ago laid an egg without shell or membrane. Then again today went out to check on her in the egg box - another egg blob, no membrane or shell. She is 14 months old.
Is this normal to happen?

Yes, it's normal during the longer days of summer. It happens when a new egg starts forming before the shell of the previous egg is finished. Some hens seem to do it fairly often and others not at all. If it happens often you can add supplemental calcium with oyster shell or crushed egg shells though, unless the soft eggs are caused by a lack of calcium I am not really sure it helps but on the other hand I know it won't hurt.