Soft egg problem

[AVAZQUEZ]

Good morning, welcome to BYC!

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.

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.

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.

 

[AVAZQUEZ]

***question*** so the oyster shells can we just go to the beach and get some? or should they be store bought?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

***question*** so the oyster shells can we just go to the beach and get some? or should they be store bought?

I live at the beach, and they need to be store bought. It is around $11.50 for a 50# bag at most places. Last me 1 year with 30 layers and I don't feed layer but flock raiser, so 3% less calcium than standard layer feed, causing me more usage of the OS than someone who does feed Layer. Point being it lasts a while.

I believe if you just pick them up, I would worry about salt content as well as any other possible contaminant. That being said, If you have a way to crush them small enough for use (not too small or it become ineffective) and ready access, maybe boiling them will suffice to make them safe eats? Self sufficiency is a good thing. Cutting out the middle man is awesome if you have the resources.

For me it wouldn't be worth my time to save myself $12 per year... My time is more valuable than gold. It's one thing in life that you can't make more of and once it's gone you can't get it back.

They do also sell much smaller bags (maybe 5#), if you wanted to try without going all in for 50#. It ends up being a lot less cost effective in the long run, but maybe worth it if you just wanna try. Maybe give you a clue as to what to look for or strive for to prepare your own as well.

Don't forget, feed back any extra egg shell you have as well. The birds love them and it doesn't take much. It also doesn't cause egg eaters. Some wash or bake theirs, I simply set them aside and let them dry out (halves not nestled inside each other) if I'm not taking them out right away so they don't grow mold. Or take them out within the day.. I crush them a little (remember too small is pointless). Sometimes I just drop it on the grass and stomp it, done.

 

[TryerT]

Thanks all for passing on your expertise. In the end the condition passed on its own. 2 or 3 days of soft eggs, followed by 3 or 4 days of a really rough textured egg and finally back to normal. I put the oyster shell down but it only attracted a couple of pecks!

 

[feistyoldbird]

Since calcium is the subject..can you provide too much calcium? Can hatching eggs receive too much calcium making it difficult or impossible for a chick to hatch?

 

[twilightgecko]

i have had soft shells when ive given my girls salty treats.. i limit them now..

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Since calcium is the subject..can you provide too much calcium? Can hatching eggs receive too much calcium making it difficult or impossible for a chick to hatch?

Hi, welcome to BYC!

The answer to your question is YES on both accounts. A hen can have too much calcium. And a chick can have a harder time breaking out of thick shells.

Some chickens naturally have thicker shells, to me that's OK. But if it has EXTRA calcium bumps and deposits I would NOT try to hatch it because it's an indicator of a a hiccup in the reproductive track. Might end up with some genetic or physical defects.

An example of a bird getting too much calcium would be a pre lay pullet, molting/old non laying hen, and roosters/chicks who are being fed LAYER, which is usually around 4% when about 1% should meet their needs. The extra calcium if fed long term *can* (doesn't mean will) cause kidney issues (gout or failure) in addition to *possibly* stunting growth and delaying onset of lay... according to studies.