Soft eggs on the ground.

[bsshog40]

So I knew 2 of our rir's were getting close to laying. I go out just before their bedtime to replenish water and food for the next day. Well tonight I found one small egg smashed on the ground and them found a whole one but the shell is very soft. The whole one looks normal for a first egg, just soft shell. Also, I put some golfballs in one of the nesting boxes to hopefully persuade them into the boxes. Both these eggs were in the run. Any advice? Here's a pic of the soft egg. We have changed their food to the recommended 16% protein.

 

[Kiki]

Make sure it's a LAYER type feed which contains the calcium layers need to produce hard shelled eggs.

Nothing to worry about yet since they are brand new layers.
You should start seeing hard eggs any day.

 

[bsshog40]

Make sure it's a LAYER type feed which contains the calcium layers need to produce hard shelled eggs.

Nothing to worry about yet since they are brand new layers.
You should start seeing hard eggs any day.

Ya, we actually just changed their food over to layer feed about 5 days ago. Any ideas on how to get them to use their nesting box? We only have 4 chickens and the coop has 3 boxes, so space is not an issue. I have clean shavings in the box. They always roost at night so the boxes don't look to ever get used.

 

[JPadronMiami]

hello bsshg40, I found, that Hens will change their minds and habits many times during their life cycle as to where they want to roost or lay their eggs, higher protein feed helps in the egg production and free choice oyster shells for calcium helps produce strong harder eggshells, some of the newer hens will learn to use the boxes if you can get a few of those fake eggs and put 1 in each box.... they sometimes are made of wood or ceramic and are painted to resemble real eggs, as far as the feed I would recommend you look at Kalmbach Henhouse Reserve complete chicken feed, its a little pricey, however its high quality feed, helped my flock from a dry spell where i was collecting 0 eggs a day from mid March until late May which is when i started using this feed and im collecting 25 to 42 eggs a day, the hens look happy and healthy, everything should fall into place for you and the flock as they mature, hope this helps...good luck! and good night

 

[bsshog40]

Well we got a bag of oyster shell to add to their food just in case. I was cleaning out the coop today and I decided to add a little straw with the shavings in the nesting boxes. One of the hens that I know laid one of those eggs was going crazy on me. Lmao She jumped right on top of my head to get into the nesting boxes. Lol She had to get in there and start shuffling stuff a round. Maybe they'll start using the boxes. Lol

 

[Scooter1A]

Totally normal for a RIR. They will use their boxes and their eggs will firm up. And they will give you lots of eggs.