Soft shell egg??? How do I fix this?

[birdwrangler057]

if they are constant free rangers, keeping them confined will cause frustration. Also, free ranging will allow them to eat some natural things which will contribute to a healthy diet and more calcium.

 

[spurrer]

Sat I had only one egg laid and it was soft shelled and broken. Sunday there were no eggs. Today there were two with better shells but still thin and very light colored. They have had oyster shells for two days now. I am hoping as each day goes by it will improve. Are the whitish eggs safe to eat?

 

[birdwrangler057]

Personally I wouldn't eat it because the egg wasn't fully developed. Keep doing what your doing and let them free range, I would give them a little time. By the way, are they molting?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I regularly butcher pullets and older hens that are still laying. I often find an egg still in the shell gland that has not yet been laid. Some are pretty thin. I just rinse them off and set them aside to be eaten within a day. The only development that hasn’t happened is the shell gland has not completely finished adding shell material, the brown coloring on top, or the bloom when it is laid. The nutrition part of the egg is complete once they start putting the shell on. That’s why I eat them within a day, they don’t have the bloom to help keep bacteria out. Personally I’d eat those eggs but do what you are comfortable doing.

It’s good to hear you are seeing some improvement with the oyster shell. I hope that solves your problem. I don’t know how long it takes for that to have a big effect, I’d think you should see a big difference in the next few days if it is going to be the answer.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I was feeding just layers feed and up to 10 percent scratch grains afrom 18 weeks and was getting a soft shell nearly daily. I added oyster shell in a separate container

and within a week no more soft shells. To many treats can also mean a vitamin deficiency and that can cause soft shells. Chicken feed has added vitamins and minerals that scratch grains and corn lack. GC

 

[birdwrangler057]

Make sure your hens are free ranging after eating that mix, its full of starch. LOL