Soft eggs

[AngelMarie1230]

My chickens are 20wks old. Several of them started laying a few weeks ago. Everything was going great initially then they started laying soft eggs, I get up to 4 of these a day. They eat layer feed, with crushed oyster shell added and I've also been giving them crushed eggshells in a homemade treat I make them. Yesterday my one hen laid 2 soft shell eggs within minutes of each other, I saw it happen.
Any suggestions on what more I can do or what might be the problem? Thank you!

 

[AnonPaperclip]

Are the eggs completely shell-less or are the shells really thin? Also, are those hens being bullied, picked, or chased around on by others? I read that stress can cause their eggs to lay prematurely.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Young layers can often have egg quality problems as their system gets ramped up and used to laying.

 

[aart]

They eat layer feed, with crushed oyster shell added and I've also been giving them crushed eggshells in a homemade treat I make them.

Best to keep oyster shell in a separate feeder.
What else is in these 'treats' you make?

Oh, and.... Welcome to BYC! @AngelMarie1230
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Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
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[AngelMarie1230]

Are the eggs completely shell-less or are the shells really thin? Also, are those hens being bullied, picked, or chased around on by others? I read that stress can cause their eggs to lay prematurely.

They have a very soft thin outer shell. I don't see any bullying going on

Best to keep oyster shell in a separate feeder.
What else is in these 'treats' you make?

Oh, and.... Welcome to BYC! @AngelMarie1230
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2285778

Thank you for the welcome!

The the recipe for the treats is:
4 cups oats
1 cup water(more if needed)
1/2 cup each sunflower, pumpkin seeds, applesauce, and peanut butter(melted).
1/4 cup each of flax seed, chia seed, chopped raisins, ground eggshells and food grade diatomaceous earth.
I press it into a cookie sheet, cut into 1" squares and freeze them.

 

[aart]

I would cut out the treats....layer feed is meant to be the sole feed.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I agree with aart.
Hard shelled eggs require more than just calcium.
Layer feed is perfectly formulated with all the vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, needed for hard shelled eggs.

Layer feed should be 90% of food given. Try making the treat with 4 cups of layer crumble instead of oats. GC

 

[AngelMarie1230]

I would cut out the treats....layer feed is meant to be the sole feed.

I'll try that, thank you