Soft egg shell

[rahbunn]

I am new to BYC. I currently have 6 hens; and all but two are laying, which is fine. Today I got an egg that was really fragile and softshelled. I have poked around this site and noticed that most experienced chicken moms and dads believe that low calcium is a factor here. My kids do feed the chickens a lot of treats...so I will need to minimize the treats and give them some additional calcium. Any other suggestions?

I have (2) Buff Orrpingtons - Omelet and Lodi
(1) Bard Plymouth Rock - Pixie
(1) Speckled Sussex - Nancy
(1) Delaware - Frosty Flakes
(1) Black Austrulup - Baby

 

[drumstick diva]

What are you feeding them? They should be on layer mix with a separate container of oyster shell. If they feel they need it they will take.

How old are your girls? Have they just started laying? Pullets can take awhile to get the kinks out of their system. They may have shelless eggs, or other defects at first. If this goes on for an extended period of time- then it needs further exploration for the causes.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Hi and welcome to BYC!! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

X2 on what drumstick diva said. Soft shelled eggs can all be caused by poor feed, age, and stress. Make sure they are eating a balanced diet of a 16-18% layer feed with calcium on the side. Old hens or new layers can all produce off-chart eggs. Stress also is a big contributor to egg production.

Here's a link too.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/common-egg-quality-problems

 

[rahbunn]

They are eating DuMor Laying Mix. We also have a separate container of grit for them to eat. Not sure that they are eating as much as they should. They pretty much free range all day. Lets see the older three were 12 weeks on April 20th so they are 22 weeks. The younger three were four weeks younger than the older ones, so they are 18 weeks old. The two Buffs are laying, along with teh Bard Rock and the Speckled Sussex. I am not sure who laid the fragile egg, as they eggs were already in the hen house this morning when I went to let them out. Also, the second egg was cracked. It seemed harder than the other...but not as strong as they have been.

Also, my eggs are little. Like the size of a large walnut shell. Is this how big they will be or will they get larger as the hens become older?

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

Young layers can lay soft shelled eggs, eggs with no shell or thin shells, double yolkers, wind eggs, wrinkly eggs, all kinds of funky eggs. It takes them a while to get the kinks out of their egg laying machines. BUT...too many treats and not enough layer feed can do this too. So keep the treats down to once or twice a day and tiny amounts each time, make sure the birds are on layer feed and oyster shell is being provided at all times in a separate container. The pullets will eat what they need.

Good luck with your flock and welcome to ours!

 

[rahbunn]

Thank you all for the advice. Plans are already in motion to get them fixed right up.

 

[gander007]

 

[Michael OShay]

Welcome to BYC! You've been given some good advice by other BYC members. That's a nice mixed flock you have. All hardy, dependable breeds that are good layers (Black Australorps particularly are excellent layers). Good luck with your flock.

 

[rahbunn]

Thank you, Mike. All but our little Beauty, our black Australorp, are laying. We have not had a soft shell egg since. We beefed up the calcium, with greek yogurt, and cut back on the scratch.

Hopefully they will do good in the winter, that is my biggest concern. In Chicago, the temps are very extreme and the winters can be vicious.

 

[Michael OShay]

Thank you, Mike. All but our little Beauty, our black Australorp, are laying. We have not had a soft shell egg since. We beefed up the calcium, with greek yogurt, and cut back on the scratch.

Hopefully they will do good in the winter, that is my biggest concern. In Chicago, the temps are very extreme and the winters can be vicious.

The lay rate will drop off some, but you should continue to get eggs in the winter as you have good, cold hardy breeds. Light (or lack thereof) is a bigger factor than cold. If you can provide them with a few extra hours of supplemental lighting on winter days, they will lay better for you. Good luck.