Soft Eggs and strange behavior

[mrskrebs]

So this evening when I was in the chicken yard I noticed one of the girls acting funny. She was being really still, didn't come over to greet me and no noises. My girls usually run to greet me and let me give them pets and love But Lela didn't come and stayed away. After a few minutes I approached her & she let me pet her, but no talking to me or anything - she seemed to want to be left alone.
I let the girls free range in the evening and the love it. Lela went out for a bit, but again stayed alone and moved really slow. I've read enough to know that is a sign there may be something wrong. So I keep watching her... as it got dark I put them back in. Lela went to the front of the yard again & just stood. I was changing water and she all of a sudden laid an egg! A SOFT egg. I went in immediately & retrieved it. Perfect egg but soft shell all around.
Which by the way - she already gave me an egg for the day. They lay them in sequential order taking turns in one nesting box. So... what does that mean!? Should I be worried ... is it normal for a chicken of her age (they've only been laying for less than 3 weeks). I haven't had a soft egg in a week from any of them.
It only bothers me b/c she seemed so uncomfortable. How worried should I be?

 

[JanetS]

I would also like to know. One of my hens has layed a broken soft shell egg two days in a row.

 

[mrskrebs]

well my girls laid a few soft eggs, in the morning for the first week or so... I think that's normal. I read up and they are building calcium etc. I just offered oyster shell so they can have it freely & I haven't really seen any soft eggs since. Until tonight. Which is weird - do they lay at night? And she was just acting so strangely.
So yes we need to hear more from all the experts here

 

[forte22]

Soft shells are common with newly egg laying pullets, and occasionally an older laying hen will lay a few soft shells in my experience.

 

[johndrean]

I had saw the exact same behavior. My girl had droopy wings and I was worried that she was sick, then after I picked her up she laid a broken soft shelled egg. She seemed okay after that.

Tonight I found another one inside the coop. I'm guessing from the same girl... she' been laying for about 4 weeks now.

I also am wondering if I should worry, or simply make sure there is lots of oyster shell available...