soft eggs

[Lindsaym]

My hens are right at 6 months old. They have just started laying there first eggs. I have noticed a few of the eggs have very very soft shells.I am feeding them Nutrena layer feed. The guy at the store said I didn't need any type of additives since it was a complete diet for my hens. Is he wrong? Is this a poor diet for them? I really want them to be healthy but I also want delicious healthy eggs!

 

[mmmeyer]

I always put some oyster shells in with the feed. And give them crushed up eggs shells. One season I had hard shells with all but two hens eggs. I know because they were white eggs. For the first couple years those hens eggs were always fragile and thin. But my Brown and green eggs had hard shells. ..go figure...

 

[aart]

It's not unusual for new layers to pass a few thin shelled or shelless eggs during the first month or so of laying.

Layer feed has enough calcium for good shells....... tho I like feed an 'all flock' 20% protein crumble to all ages and genders. Makes life much simpler to store and distribute one type of chow that everyone can eat. I have calcium available at all times for the layers, oyster shell mixed with rinsed, dried, crushed chicken egg shells in a separate container. The higher protein crumble offsets the 8% protein scratch grains and other kitchen/garden scraps I like to offer.