Soft-Shelled and Rubber Eggs

[Pavie Andel]

I have 5 chickens at 25 weeks of age. White Leghorn, Silver-laced Wyandotte, RIR, NHR, and Buff Orpington (Lila). It has taken a while to figure this out, but it is the Buff Orpington struggling to produce an egg with a viable shell. She is not showing any signs of illness. All 5 free range in a large enclosed garden area with a lot of vegetation. They are on Hiland Natural layer feed. They have oyster shell available all the time. Carefully regulated treats include chicken scratch and meal worms. Lila was the last to start laying eggs, in the last 2-3 weeks, she has produced 6 soft-shelled or rubber eggs. The other 4 girls are doing great. I am at a loss at this point.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It should work itself out over the coming weeks without you doing anything. It's normal for some first timers to lay them.

 

[chickens really]

When my young ladies start laying soft shelled eggs...I cut out all treats...only free range, regular feed and make a bowl of oyster shell, granite grit and a handful of scratch....They eat the shell...Just make sure the scratch is way less than the oyster shell....
Layers only need 5% daily in treats.....Meaning a Tablespoon per bird a day....

Cheers!

 

[aart]

I have 5 chickens at 25 weeks of age. White Leghorn, Silver-laced Wyandotte, RIR, NHR, and Buff Orpington (Lila). It has taken a while to figure this out, but it is the Buff Orpington struggling to produce an egg with a viable shell. She is not showing any signs of illness. All 5 free range in a large enclosed garden area with a lot of vegetation. They are on Hiland Natural layer feed. They have oyster shell available all the time. Carefully regulated treats include chicken scratch and meal worms. Lila was the last to start laying eggs, in the last 2-3 weeks, she has produced 6 soft-shelled or rubber eggs. The other 4 girls are doing great. I am at a loss at this point.

Welcome to BYC!
Is she/did she produce any hard shelled eggs?

 

[Pavie Andel]

Thank you for replying. She did not. However, hours after my original post, my dog scaled the fence and fatally injured Lila and the RIR, Myrtle. So the discussion is now purely academic.

 

[aart]

Thank you for replying. She did not. However, hours after my original post, my dog scaled the fence and fatally injured Lila and the RIR, Myrtle. So the discussion is now purely academic.

OhCrap! So sorry.