Soft Eggs

[thaiturkey]

One of our two young ladies who are about both about seven months old has produced her first egg today. The three lads of the same age have been trying their luck for the first time but she is the smallest hen we have and I'm surprised that she is the first of the two young ones to produce.

The eggs is about the size and appearance of a chicken's egg. However, the shell is soft to the extent that it can be squeezed like a soft ball. We moved it from the coop floor where she laid it to the nest we put in there the other day to encourage her and any others with eggs to lay in there next time.

My wife says that it is not unusual for the very fist egg from a hen to be soft shelled but she is thinking in terms of chickens. Can someone offer information and advice about this, please?

Ta.

 

[Frosty]

I haven't seen any first eggs like that, but I think I have heard of it. I give mine oyster shell free choice, so if she keeps it up make sure she has access to calcium.

 

[ziggywiggy]

I've never seen that with a turkey but I do see it once in a while with chickens. Usually the next egg is OK. I'd guess that your wife is correct. Lack of calcium usually causes thin shells in my experience.

 

[thaiturkey]

Thanks, folks, for your advice. I'll wait to see what the next egg is like and give her some supplement if it's the same. The previous hatches from three other hens had very hard shells and we try to give them all a well balanced diet.

What I'm amazed at is how she could lay such a soft egg without breaking what is no more than a membrane!

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

I've seen it before from time to time, it's no big deal.

Steve

 

[thaiturkey]

Thanks Steve.

We eagerly await this mornings production!

I guess that the soft egg is no good except to point the way to the nest.

 

[thaiturkey]

She laid a perfectly shelled egg this morning so all seems to be well.

Thank you all for the advice.