Should I add oyster shell?+Why is she laying while roosting?

[TheBeardie]

Some of my 25 week old pullets are starting to lay. This morning I noticed a two eggs under the roost, one or two(?) of the girls has layed while roosting. One was hard shelled and the other is soft shelled.

They eat 15% layer pellets and free range the majority of the time. Should I add oyster shell to their diet? And why is she laying while roosting?

 

[TheBeardie]

The soft shelled egg was completely normal on the inside.

 

[imnukensc]

Fairly normal occurrence with young, new layers. It'll work itself out. If you're feeding layer feed with calcium already in it you may or may not need to add oyster shell. Some say yes, some say they don't need it. Mine are on layer feed and free range nearly all day long every day. I do give them oyster shell on the side in a separate dish. Whether they need it or not I don't know. They rarely touch it.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Definitely add oyster shell free choice.

 

[Little Jerry Seinfeld]

I just crush their own egg shells and mix it into the food. About a half cup per 5 gallon bucket when i ferment it.
I dont know why she would lay on the roost, maybe shes just laying on the ground behind the roost? Try adding some golf balls or fake eggs to the egg boxes to encourage her to lay in there...
Like the other person said, the soft shell is just from her being a new layer. I've only had a quail lay a soft egg, once, but none of my chickens ever have..

 

[TheBeardie]

Thanks everyone! I know the egg was the pullets getting their systems going, I was just wondering if I really needed to add the oyster shell. She is definitely laying from the roost. The eggs are dropping into the poop not being nested there.

 

[Little Jerry Seinfeld]

Thanks everyone! I know the egg was the pullets getting their systems going, I was just wondering if I really needed to add the oyster shell. She is definitely laying from the roost. The eggs are dropping into the poop not being nested there.

Crazy bird my birds have zero interest in oyster so i find it a waste of money. And they seem to do good with egg shells. The food i buy actually has lots of calcium added but during laying season i add eggshells just in case. Some people do say oyster shell is vital. Up to you.

 

[RumneyRoost]

I've heard that the soft shells don't feel the same as hard shells when they lay, so they get treated as a "poop". I've never found a soft shell in the nest box, but I've found the odd one outside or in the coop. All from new layers, or from my poor girl who passed of oviductal cancer

I would provide oyster shell, it's cheap and they'll eat it if they need it.

If you know who laid it you can also break up a tums and give it to her.

 

[50-45-1]

When pullets begin to lay there egg production is not on schedule. This is why the eggs are taking her by suprise in the middle of the night. Chickens are stationary at night. She will not leave the roost and seak out a nest box at this time.
I offer a feeder of grit, and a feeder of oyster shell at all times, winter and summer even tho my flock also free range 90 percent of the year. Why? .....Why not!
Both of these items are inexpensive and last a long time. Chickens will not over eat either item. And are not harmful.
Below is the feeders i use for this.