Small, rough egg

[hunter1158]

I bought 5 17 week old red star chickens from a 4-H auction. Today I got an egg that had an extremely rough outer shell. I also got a small brown egg with a smooth outer. Is it just the first egg, or are they lacking nutrients? They are on a 21% layer pellet feed. I'm going to get a bag of oyster shells to give them tomorrow. Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

 

[N F C]

It's not unusual for the first eggs of new layers to be "different". Keep crushed oyster shell available to them at all times and check out this article for egg quality problems and their possible reasons:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/common-egg-quality-problems

 

[ChickenMammX4]

Mine just started laying within the last month. There were soft shelled eggs, a shelless, an egg with extra shell on the outside, small eggs and days between laying. Everything straightened out and we're getting perfect eggs consistantly. It just takes time.

 

[aart]

I bought 5 17 week old red star chickens from a 4-H auction. Today I got an egg that had an extremely rough outer shell. I also got a small brown egg with a smooth outer. Is it just the first egg, or are they lacking nutrients? They are on a 21% layer pellet feed. I'm going to get a bag of oyster shells to give them tomorrow. Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Not unusual for new layers to have a few of those.
Curious, where do you get 21%(protein?) layer feed?

 

[hunter1158]

I get my feed from my local Co-op in Eagleville Tn.

 

[aart]

I get my feed from my local Co-op in Eagleville Tn.

So it's custom mixed rather than a name brand?

 

[hunter1158]

So it's custom mixed rather than a name brand?

Yes, it's the co-op's brand feed that we make. (I work there)

 

[aart]

Quote: Good to see someone giving layers more than the measly 15-16% that is the usual.
3-4% calcium in your mix?

 

[hunter1158]

Yes. It's 4%