Soft shelled eggs

[RoodyRodchester]

One of my chickens continues to lay soft shelled eggs every 2 days. I purchased some oyster shell because I thought she needed the calcium but here we are a week and a half in and she is still laying them. Could there be another problem? Or should I give the oyster shell longer to work?

 

[Free Spirit]

Is she a new layer or established layer? New layers sometimes lay a few soft shelled eggs.

Oyster shells should be available in a separate dish so they can take what they need when they want/need it. They should have that available everyday.

 

[RoodyRodchester]

She's an established layer. I do have the shell in another bowl right by her feed. She also free ranges around the yard. She laid one about 2 months ago but went back to regular eggs. Now every egg she lays is soft.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

How old is she?

 

[Free Spirit]

What does she eat/what kind of feed?

 

[RoodyRodchester]

I inherited her from my mother in law so I'm not exactly sure on the age but I know she's at least 4 years.

 

[RoodyRodchester]

What does she eat/what kind of feed?

Country lane 16% all flock

 

[Free Spirit]

It might be because she is 4. But here is a link to the BYC Learning Center on common egg problems

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/common-egg-quality-problems

Particularly under Soft Shelled Eggs is written

"15. Soft shell eggs
These eggs are laid with an incomplete shell, sometimes just a thin layer of calcium. Causes are similar to shell less eggs:

- Immature shell gland;

- Nutritional deficiencies, usually lack of calcium, vitamins E, B12 and D as well as phosphorous and selenium;

- Disease such as infectious bronchitis, avian influenza, egg drop syndrome; an internal or external parasite infestation;

- Exposure to very high temperatures and/or very high or low humidity levels;

- Egg laid prematurely due to stress or a disturbance during the calcification process;

- Egg laying while molting."

 

[RoodyRodchester]

Thank you!