Soft pale egg, only occasionally?

[Cazook]

Thread title looks like a crossword clue lol. I have noticed that one of my hens lays a soft-shelled egg sometimes. Her usual eggs are dark brown and thick-shelled, but every week or two she will lay an egg that is lighter coloured, almost rough surfaced, and very fragile. Sometimes it cracks just on picking it up. She is fed layer feed and there's also crushed shells available for her. None of my other hens have any shell problems, and the dark-coloured eggs she lays inbetween the soft eggs are normal. Any idea what causes this?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It's possible she's got a shell gland disorder or she just needs a bit more calcium. Provide oyster shell free choice. Make sure she's eating a nutritionally balanced feed, has no issues with lice/mites and worms and isn't overly stressed.

If it continues, then you can try giving her a boost of calcium (1/2 tablet Caltrate with D3) for a few days.