Soft Eggs - What's the problem?

[pamarino17]

My hens just started laying eggs last Sunday so I started the layer feed and put out the crushed oyster shell. However, some of the eggs are so delicate that I either find them broken or they break when I pick them up. The shell is tissue paper thin.

They hens are only 20 weeks and the eggs are pretty small. Is the thin shell and small size normal or am I doing something wrong? I wasn't expecting to get any eggs yet, but already getting four a day. Some have a strong shell and some dont, but they are all small in size.

Also, it seems everytime I go into the coop, one of the hens, a buff orp, wants to approach me. I don't know if shes trying to protect the other 17 or if she just likes me, but is this normal behavior. When I try to pick her up, she crouches down and becomes stiff. What is that?

 

[buzymom13]

Ok please keep in mind I'm new and my chickens are nearing egg laying stage so here's what I've learned. The oyster shell is what you need for their egg shells to be thicker. (We had one egg 2 days ago that had no shell) The squatting behaviour is telling you that she's getting near to starting laying ... POL Point of Lay I believe is what one lady said. Normal behaviour.

Hope that helps....

 

[Nemo]

Quote:
It's prob'ly just that they are new layers, and their plumbing is quite worked out yet. You might try mixing a little of the oyster shells directly into their food to make sure they are getting it. It should work itself out, though.

Quote:
If she kind of looks like she is sticking her elbows out, she is squatting... Which means she is setting herself to accept a rooster to mount her.

 

[Montana-Hens]

My 20 week old EE has been doing this now for two weeks.

I keep my fingers crossed that she gets it soon, and the eggs get bigger and she figures out what to do with the oyster shell inside her body. I have gotten two small hard eggs and now 4 small shelless eggs!