Soft shell eggs...should I worry?

[black_cat]

I know that this is probably nothing to worry about, but I'd like to check. My white leghorn, Tillie, has been laying almost an egg every day. Yesterday she didn't lay one, and today she laid two soft shell ones. They were both in the run, while she always lays her normal eggs in the nesting box. She has been acting normal, and they have plenty of oyster shell for calcium. Ruth, my red sexlink, also laid today, and it was a normal egg. Thoughts? Should I be worried or am I just overreacting?

 

[sloanbychoice]

I would just keep an eye on her for her next egg. If it’s normal, then it was just a fluke thing.

 

[RShayne]

Keep an eye on her, when they first start laying their reproductive system needs to work out some kinks and settle down. If she starts avoiding the other girls and doesn't want to move around much she may be egg bound.

 

[Rammy]

Are the shells themselves soft or are they shell-less? If the shells are soft the hens arent getting enough calcium. You can give the oyster shells as a supplement. There are some layer pellets with the calcium infused in the pellet you can buy also.

 

[black_cat]

Are the shells themselves soft or are they shell-less? If the shells are soft the hens arent getting enough calcium. You can give the oyster shells as a supplement. There are some layer pellets with the calcium infused in the pellet you can buy also.

The shells themselves were soft. She laid them both in the run and instead of actually sitting down and laying them, she just sort of popped them out and went along with her day. This was two in a few hours, and she didn't lay any yesterday. They are all on Dumor 16% Layer Pellets and they have plenty of free choice oyster shell. My other layer, my red sex link, laid a normal egg today with a normal shell.

 

[RShayne]

I think she will be fine, just write it up as reproductive system kicking starting. Takes about a month (sometimes shorter or longer) for her to settle down and ready to get to work.

 

[black_cat]

I think she will be fine, just write it up as reproductive system kicking starting. Takes about a month (sometimes shorter or longer) for her to settle down and ready to get to work.

She's an adult that we got from a farm and she was apparently laying before we got her. For the first month we had her she didn't lay at all and has been laying for about a month without a hitch. This is the first issue.

 

[RShayne]

She's an adult that we got from a farm and she was apparently laying before we got her. For the first month we had her she didn't lay at all and has been laying for about a month without a hitch. This is the first issue.

By adult how old do you mean? It could just be a hiccup in the system, just keep an eye on her and watch for signs of egg bound.

Where is the oyster shells located? Make sure she has to walk by it to get to her food and / or water.

 

[black_cat]

By adult how old do you mean? It could just be a hiccup in the system, just keep an eye on her and watch for signs of egg bound.

Where is the oyster shells located? Make sure she has to walk by it to get to her food and / or water.

She's over 1 year old. I don't know exact age. She does have to walk past them for food+water. I"m hoping that it is just a fluke as she has been acting normal aside from the eggs.

 

[black_cat]

No egg from her yet today, but still normal behavior. No lethargy, no tail pumping, nothing out of the ordinary. Still head chicken and still very skittish and nervous around me. Still running for treats, and still eating and drinking.