Soft eggs at roost

I have the same issue. I found two soft shell eggs this morning busted on ground under where they roost. We also have the pdz. I'm getting some oyster shell today....

 

If they are new layers then it is likely not so much an issue of lack of calcium so much as their bodies are just not used to egg making yet. Mine have plenty of calcium but one of my birds insisted on dropping several soft shells from the roost.

For truly calcium deficient hens, I am not sure how long the added calcium takes to take effect. I would be interested to hear the answer to that as well.

 

This has been happening to me often. I'm wondering how often it really happens and we don't know it. I have one that lays a good egg in the morning and come later in the same day she lays another with no shell....this happens right in front of us on the deck. She done that twice now in the past 4 days. So how often does it happen and we don't see it.

 

I would think that if 1 hen out of say a flock of 6 or more all eating the same diet is laying malformed eggs, and there is no other signs of illness in that hen, it has something to do with that particular hens system not being quite right.

ETA: My theory here applies to established layers rather than newly laying pullets.

 

Yes or just not being ready to be a full time layer. Mine are 20 weeks old. This particular chicken I'm talking about is my best layer so far. She and another has only missed two days in August so far. I have another who has missed 4 days and the other two are just starting out. They haven't even laid half the days in August.

 

I have a 9 month old BO who has been laying 4 or so soft shelled eggs every week from the roost. They don't have a shell per se, it's more like they are contained within a water-balloon type material. When she does manage to get a good egg out, she lays in the nest box.

My birds were being fed predominantly on grain, but I have since switched to layers pellets 2 days ago.

I have also ordered some liquid calcium to add to their water.

I spoke to my vet regarding all of this and he said yes, this was the way to go. He also said it could take several weeks to see a result.

I haven't received the calcium in the mail yet but will keep everyone posted as to any results I notice after I start using it.

It is just so frustrating to see eggs go to waste. So near, and yet so far! Hopefully they will all get the hang of it.

- Krista

 

Well, yes, new layers are a different story, I meant established layers.......I will edit my post to add that for future reference.