Soft eggs

[Jill S]

I have a flock of 6 months olds, and 1 two year old.
4 Rhode Island Red's
3 Barred Plymouth Rocks
3 Buff Orpington's
1 Black Australorp
and I'm not sure what my older one is.

Some of my young ones have just started laying. I have gotten a couple really small eggs, but more consistently, I am getting soft shell eggs. They are normal size, and you can handle them without them breaking/busting. Just wondering how long this stage will last? This is my first year with chickens.

 

[galvinj]

From what I've read they work things out in about a month Are you offering crushed oyster shell on side? Thier bodies utilize a tremendous amount of calcium when they lay an egg.
I have four six month old black Australorps and two just started laying last week. I got three soft shell and three nice eggs so far.

 

[Jill S]

No, I have not offered oyster shell yet, but will pick some up this weekend!

 

[aart]

Soft shell eggs are not unusual in new layers for about the first month or so.
Probably hard to tell if they are all coming from one bird or several of them have started laying.

What are you feeding?

 

[Jill S]

I have 12 girls, one of which is older, and has been laying. Yesterday I got 2 eggs, both were good.
We feed 'Country Road' layer pellets from Rural King. And of course they get treats from time to time.