Soft egg problem

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TryerT

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Hi Everyone, this is my first post. We've just started keeping chickens - we have two hybrids and will add two more soon. The birds are young and started producing eggs just after we bought them 7 weeks ago. Both birds were producing eggs reliably on a daily basis after an initial settling down period. Now suddenly one bird has started producing very soft eggs for 3 days straight while the other one has continued as before. I can't see any signs of issues with her and she seems to be eating well and full of energy. This does seem to have coincided with a change of layers pellets to a new bag, different brand. Is it possible that she has objected to the change of pellets? The birds free range during the day. Thanks for your help!
 
Try providing her some crushed oyster shells. It is a great source of calcium which it takes a lot of to form the shell. I would check the label on the bags and see if there are any significant differences. If so you may want to consider changing back. I would say she just needs more calcium. It's probably not the feed if it's only effecting the one bird, but it's still a possibility. Hope this helps.
 
TryerT said:
Hi Everyone, this is my first post. We've just started keeping chickens - we have two hybrids and will add two more soon. The birds are young and started producing eggs just after we bought them 7 weeks ago. Both birds were producing eggs reliably on a daily basis after an initial settling down period. Now suddenly one bird has started producing very soft eggs for 3 days straight while the other one has continued as before. I can't see any signs of issues with her and she seems to be eating well and full of energy. This does seem to have coincided with a change of layers pellets to a new bag, different brand. Is it possible that she has objected to the change of pellets? The birds free range during the day. Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...
She needs calcium and the eggs should be fine.
 
Welcome to BYC @TryerT!

She may need more calcium...or she may not be eating enough of the new feed to get the other essential nutrients to properly uptake the calcium she is getting.

What is the old and the new feed?
 
wvchics said:
Try providing her some crushed oyster shells. It is a great source of calcium which it takes a lot of to form the shell. I would check the label on the bags and see if there are any significant differences. If so you may want to consider changing back. I would say she just needs more calcium. It's probably not the feed if it's only effecting the one bird, but it's still a possibility. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Thanks for that. I've just ordered a bag of crushed oyster shells which I'll offer in a separate container near the main feed. How long it it likely to take for recovery?
 
The important thing would be if the values are different on the label for example if the new feed has a different % calcium. She could also not be eating enough since the switch. If that's the case you may want to switch back depending on your reason for switching to begin with. Most people recommend providing the crushed oyster shells anyway. It just helps ensure they get enough calcium and also works as grit. Also, it might help to keep them in the run in the morning and give them a little time to eat before letting them free range. That's what I usually do. That way they aren't just filling up on what they want and lose interest in the feed. I provide mine feed in the run in the morning and evening and let them free range in between. Either way though you probably still want to invest in the oyster shells.
 
I think the oyster shells will work fine. It shouldn't take too long before you start to notice a difference. That's what I do I just put the grit in a bowl and they take what they need. Once she gets the calcium she needs her eggs should form better and come out harder.
 
TryerT said:
Hi Everyone, this is my first post. We've just started keeping chickens - we have two hybrids and will add two more soon. The birds are young and started producing eggs just after we bought them 7 weeks ago. Both birds were producing eggs reliably on a daily basis after an initial settling down period. Now suddenly one bird has started producing very soft eggs for 3 days straight while the other one has continued as before. I can't see any signs of issues with her and she seems to be eating well and full of energy. This does seem to have coincided with a change of layers pellets to a new bag, different brand. Is it possible that she has objected to the change of pellets? The birds free range during the day. Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...
Good morning, welcome to BYC! :frow

You have received good response already... and I don't disagree that OS should be provided on the side. Also, be sure you aren't providing lots of treats like fruits and salad greens.. as they can unbalance the diet.

However, younger birds and older birds or any bird just entering or exiting their lay cycle can have hiccups in their reproductive tracts. Your girl is still maturing and working out the kinks so to speak. (The reason I NEVER hatch eggs from fresh layers) So calcium for egg shells is absorbed into the keel bone and then redistributed to the shell gland. It is my understanding that a hen will use up her own calcium before laying softees... so that MIGHT be the case.. but calcium is pretty important, so if she used hers up I would expect to see some health indicators which you said you don't. And yes, with changes to feed, I have had some girls protest.

It's possible the eggs are coming to fast for the shell gland to complete it's portion of the process. You call her a hybrid, does that mean mixed breed or sex link? Is she laying these in the box or randomly? Many of my girls, if they do have a softee don't even recognize it as an egg and just drop it like poo, anywhere.

Also could be genetic. :confused:

The calcium is a good place to start.. but you can keep these things in mind if it continues.

You might feed some tums or rolaids.. those are over the counter antacids, with the active ingredient being calcium (bi?) carbonate. It MIGHT help for a speedy recovery. I know people use it when their hens become egg bound because it somehow helps the muscles, sorry I don't know the process by which that happens.

Anyways, good luck! Soft eggs are one of the easier things to deal with in chicken keeping. :fl
 

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