Soft Egg Mystery

[kristeninprogress]

While opening the coop this morning, I found a broken soft egg in one of the nesting boxes. It looked as if it had just simply burst. No hard shells, relatively cool,so it may have sat for a while, and it just looked normal for a soft shell egg.

I'm not worried, but I'm mystified. I have 8 chickens. Three are already laying with the most recent layer beginning two days ago. Out of the other five, I thought I had maybe two that are within a week of laying (developed combs, egg squatting, increased vocalization). So that leaves three that I assumed are no where near to laying. Initial checks of all of them showed normal vents, no sign of illness, and all are alert, bright-eyed, and bushy-tailed today.

Since discovering that egg, two hens have laid normally, including the newest layer. I'm still waiting on my third, who last laid yesterday afternoon. I went out to the coop a little while ago to clean it, and found another egg yolk (broken up, no shell whatsoever) on the opposite side of the coop. It looked like it belonged to the first soft egg. Perhaps it burst in the culprit's vent?

At the same time, one of my EEs that I assumed was one of the three a few weeks out from laying, came into the nesting boxes scratching and squatting. Vent looked normal, and some feathers were stuck together. Her pelvic bones are 3 fingers apart, and her stomach is soft, so maybe she's the one laying?

She has access to free-choice oyster shells and layer feed. Since her vent looks normal and she doesn't appear sick, do I need to take any other measures? I do have the means to separate her, but she's a nervous girl, and I don't want to stress her out more than necessary.

To recap, my questions are:
1. Is it likely that this soft egg is from a brand new layer, or could my sex-link have laid two eggs in 24 hours?
2. Do I need to intervene, or is it ok to just observe? Honestly, I wouldn't be concerned if it wasn't for the second spot of broken egg I found.
3. Has anyone dealt with a new layer starting out like this? How long did it take to get a "normal" egg?

 

[DobieLover]

While opening the coop this morning, I found a broken soft egg in one of the nesting boxes. It looked as if it had just simply burst. No hard shells, relatively cool,so it may have sat for a while, and it just looked normal for a soft shell egg.
View attachment 2021387

I'm not worried, but I'm mystified. I have 8 chickens. Three are already laying with the most recent layer beginning two days ago. Out of the other five, I thought I had maybe two that are within a week of laying (developed combs, egg squatting, increased vocalization). So that leaves three that I assumed are no where near to laying. Initial checks of all of them showed normal vents, no sign of illness, and all are alert, bright-eyed, and bushy-tailed today.

Since discovering that egg, two hens have laid normally, including the newest layer. I'm still waiting on my third, who last laid yesterday afternoon. I went out to the coop a little while ago to clean it, and found another egg yolk (broken up, no shell whatsoever) on the opposite side of the coop. It looked like it belonged to the first soft egg. Perhaps it burst in the culprit's vent?

At the same time, one of my EEs that I assumed was one of the three a few weeks out from laying, came into the nesting boxes scratching and squatting. Vent looked normal, and some feathers were stuck together. Her pelvic bones are 3 fingers apart, and her stomach is soft, so maybe she's the one laying?

She has access to free-choice oyster shells and layer feed. Since her vent looks normal and she doesn't appear sick, do I need to take any other measures? I do have the means to separate her, but she's a nervous girl, and I don't want to stress her out more than necessary.

To recap, my questions are:
1. Is it likely that this soft egg is from a brand new layer, or could my sex-link have laid two eggs in 24 hours?
2. Do I need to intervene, or is it ok to just observe? Honestly, I wouldn't be concerned if it wasn't for the second spot of broken egg I found.
3. Has anyone dealt with a new layer starting out like this? How long did it take to get a "normal" egg?

It is not unusual for new layers to start off with shell-less eggs, softies or even an egg in an egg (the first I found of these was quite a surprise). They can also lay a perfectly normal egg one day and then drop a shell-less egg off the roost over night the next time.
Once a softie or shell-less egg is laid, it can be pecked at by anyone and break. As long as it didn't break inside the layer, she should be okay. Keep an eye on all of them for lethargic behavior.
I would sprinkle some oyster shell directly over the feed every three days or so until you stop seeing abnormal shells. I also put out multiple dispensers of oyster shell in high traffic areas so it's always in their faces. Once they get the hang of it, they should start laying to their normal cycle. I will also toss a small amount of oyster shell with some scratch if I find a softie in my daily rent payment.

So to answer your questions directly:
1- It's likely a new layer.
2- I would simply monitor.
3- Yes. With many new layers. How long it takes to resolve depends on the speed of development of the bird and how readily they take to the supplemental calcium.

 

[kristeninprogress]

It is not unusual for new layers to start off with shell-less eggs, softies or even an egg in an egg (the first I found of these was quite a surprise). They can also lay a perfectly normal egg one day and they drop a shell-less egg off the roost over night the next time.
Once a softie or shell-less egg is laid, it can be pecked at by anyone and break. As long as it didn't break inside the layer, she should be okay. Keep an eye on all of them for lethargic behavior.
I would sprinkle some oyster shell directly over the feed every three days or so until you stop seeing abnormal shells. I also put out multiple dispensers of oyster shell in high traffic areas so it's always in their faces. Once they get the hang of it, they should start laying to their normal cycle. I will also toss a small amount of oyster shell with some scratch if I find a softie in my daily rent payment.

So to answer your questions directly:
1- It's likely a new layer.
2- I would simply monitor.
3- Yes. With many new layers. How long it takes to resolve depends on the speed of development of the bird and how readily they take to the supplemental calcium.

Great advice! Thank you!

 

[kristeninprogress]

Update: Since this incident, I haven't had anymore soft eggs, yolks, or new layers.

Until today!!! The pullet... *ahem*, hen, has been identified as Lily, my "Americana" from TSC last August. I went to the coop this morning, and found this beautiful egg covered in additional egg yolk.

My theory is that Lily is likely a dependable double yolker, and her system hasn't worked out the kinks, yet. I'm so eggcited for her eggs, though!

 

[kristeninprogress]

And thank you, @DobieLover, for the advice! I've been adding oyster shells to their feed and scratch, and I've added crushed egg shells to their free-choice oyster shells.

 

[aart]

I've been adding oyster shells to their feed and scratch

Layer feed, correct?
How much scratch are you giving?
Might want to cut way back on that.

 

[kristeninprogress]

Layer feed, correct?
How much scratch are you giving?
Might want to cut way back on that.

Yes, Purina Layer Plus Omega-3 Pellets for the last 2 months.

I only do a small handleful of scratch per chicken at the end of the day which has a small amount of corn, but it's mostly sunflower seeds and mealworms.

 

[aart]

Yes, Purina Layer Plus Omega-3 Pellets for the last 2 months.

They should have plenty of calcium on board then.....softies are likely just new layer glitches.

 

[kristeninprogress]

They should have plenty of calcium on board then.....softies are likely just new layer glitches.

Thank you, I think that's the most likely scenario. I'm only having issues with my Olive Egger. I remember my EEs growing up would only lay double yolks, so I wonder if that's what her system is trying to work out. I found the egg above covered in an additional yolk.

 

[kristeninprogress]

Well, just found this chilling in the pasture. No shell or membrane in sight.