Soft eggs ! And eggs with no shell ! :(

[Gemschooks]

Hi everyone I have three chickens , my first snowdrop started laying a week ago and she's been doing great ! Got 6 eggs from her all lovely ! Her pal a rhode rock black ? Started laying two days later but her eggs have been soft, her first had no shell . She's Laid 4 in total . The specaldy I don't think has started laying yet ! But today I went down and had a soft egg and a egg with no shell - could the one hen have laid both of these or the specaldy may be starting ? My snowdrop will lay later so I know it's not her !

My question is that I am feeding them layers pellets and calcium supplement , is it just because she's a new layer ? X

 

[Judy]

Let's hope it's just being a new layer. It seems to take at least some of them about a month to get the whole egg laying thing organized. You could try a quick calcium boost by putting one Tums tablet in their water a couple of times a week til they straighten out..

Good luck!

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publi...ndbook/16/thinshelled-eggs-and-shellless-eggs

 

[Quahog]

My RIR's just started laying the first egg was shell-less and they have gotten steadily harder like a rock now! The eggs are still small but they are Delicious. They have been laying for about a week and a half. I feed mine layer feed and they have free choice of oyster shells afternoons they free range in a fenced back yard.

 

[terryg]

Often first-time layers will take a bit for their systems to get into sync. Also, if a hen is stressed, she might spend less time laying on the egg shell (the whole process of egg making takes about 25 hours.) Pullets sometimes go in and out of nesting boxes, or interrupt their laying process. That soon settles out.
BTW, I found that the best way to offer calcium is in a rabbit feeder - up off the ground and dry. Much less waste and they seem to be more attracted to it that way. You can see a photo here:
http://hencam.com/faq/what-to-feed-your-chickens/