Soft Egg?

[mrl8810]

I have chickens that are laying now...all of the eggs that I've seen so far have been normal. They have two nest..one inside a huge box and one inside a crate...I collect the eggs inside the crate a few times a day as that's where most my chickens lay...but every now and then some lay in the box...ive caught chickens eating those eggs in the box..but NOT in the crate? Today i looked in the box and there was a soft egg...it's squishy...I'm not sure what caused this? Or what to do..Or if this may be why the chickens are eating eggs in the box? Thanks for any help

 

[BudgieKing15]

Are you giving them plenty of calcium?

 

[BudgieKing15]

Also, how old are the hens?

 

[mrl8810]

Also, how old are the hens?

The hens range from ages 8 months-2-3 years old.

I'm giving them their scratch corn and layer? I give them treats sometimes such as sweet potatoes..grass...worms etc

 

[BudgieKing15]

Ok, when I had younger hens sometimes they just laid a funky/weird egg, and that is usually caused by them still developing their egg laying system. If they are older, though, sometimes they simply start laying weird eggs due to aging.

 

[BudgieKing15]

If they are older they will need a lot of calcium in order to keep their egg shells hard.

 

[BudgieKing15]

Oh, and they might be eating eggs if they need protein.

 

[aart]

I'm giving them their scratch corn and layer? I give them treats sometimes such as sweet potatoes..grass...worms etc

I'd cut out the corn.
Softshell eggs could be from lack of calcium and/or mis-application of it...or stress.
A separate feeder with Oyster Shells might help, some birds need more calcium than others.

Soft or thin shelled eggs are easily broken and fair game for eating, IMO.
How many birds total?
2 nests might be causing some consternation, especially if they are of different shapes and locations.

 

[mrl8810]

I'd cut out the corn.
Softshell eggs could be from lack of calcium and/or mis-application of it...or stress.
A separate feeder with Oyster Shells might help, some birds need more calcium than others.

Soft or thin shelled eggs are easily broken and fair game for eating, IMO.
How many birds total?
2 nests might be causing some consternation, especially if they are of different shapes and locations.

I put some crushed up eggshells in today and within about 2-3 minutes all 5 eggshells were gone completely...

I have probably 8-10 hens..I only have two nest because they had began to lay on the ground and I put a crate in htere with a top on it so they wouldn't get wet or have to lay on the ground...one started laying in it..then they all except for two started laying in it...the other two started laying in their roost box...they are eating the eggs from the roost box but not the crate?

What would i replace the corn with? I give them the corn/layer/veggies occasionally when i have them..grass sometimes etc...don't they need the corn/layer mix both? Thanks for any help

 

[aart]

I have probably 8-10 hens..I only have two nest because they had began to lay on the ground and I put a crate in htere with a top on it so they wouldn't get wet or have to lay on the ground

Should probably have 3 nests for 10 hens.
Set up the nests lower than the roosts(where they should spend the night).
Put a fake egg in each nest and they will begin to use them.

roost box

What is it that you are calling a 'roost box'?
Are they sleeping at night in this 'roost box'?
Some pics of your set up, coop and run inside and out, would help here.

What would i replace the corn with?

Nothing.
Layer feed, usually 16% protein and 3-4% calcium, should be all they need to lay good eggs.
All the other stuff is more for the keepers than the birds,
tho the birds will eat just about anything else you toss at them,
and can dilute the nutrition in the layer feed.