Soft shelled eggs

[NotSoChickenLove]

I've previously posted about a chicken that had to have her feathers trimmed because she'd glued them into a giant mess by sitting in a broken egg. Now I've discovered that it's because she's laying soft shelled eggs. Today's would be her third, although she's had mostly normal hard shelled ones, and hard shelled ones in between. She's got oyster grit, she's getting a good quality commercial laying pellet, and she free ranges as well. She's only been laying a few weeks. Is there anything I should be doing, or is it most likely a function of a newly operational egg laying system???

 

[firestomp]

I have had hens turn their beaks up at the oyster shell from TSC and rural king, I have sifted it to get the fines and added it to the feed and that worked. I found on line a place that sells the flake shell, the thin inner grey parts of the shell I get 10 lbs of this and it lasts a long time and free shipping. I sift this now and give to my quail and chickens, all gobble this stuff down my eggs are hard shelled from all. This may sound crazy, but antacid tablets are 100% calcium carbonate, I have crushed these and mixed with feed as well, and it coats the pellets. I used just cheap, plain antacid tablets. Hope this helps.
I forgot to mention, all eggs used for our eating, the shells are broken some and fed back to chickens. I have so many quail eggs, we just boil the extras, chop them up and feed right back to chickens. win win here, protien and calcium.

 

[BlueShadow]

I've previously posted about a chicken that had to have her feathers trimmed because she'd glued them into a giant mess by sitting in a broken egg. Now I've discovered that it's because she's laying soft shelled eggs. Today's would be her third, although she's had mostly normal hard shelled ones, and hard shelled ones in between. She's got oyster grit, she's getting a good quality commercial laying pellet, and she free ranges as well. She's only been laying a few weeks. Is there anything I should be doing, or is it most likely a function of a newly operational egg laying system???

Soft shelled eggs often happen as pullets come into lay, or as hens resume laying. Three of them over a few weeks may be on the high side, but nothing I would make any drastic changes about yet. Give her a good month of laying before getting too concerned

 

[NotSoChickenLove]

Soft shelled eggs often happen as pullets come into lay, or as hens resume laying. Three of them over a few weeks may be on the high side, but nothing I would make any drastic changes about yet. Give her a good month of laying before getting too concerned

All 3 have been in the last week. Before that she was laying normal eggs. And she's laid a few normal ones this week also. She's managed to sit in two eggs now, and I can't keep trimming her belly feathers or there won't be any left! I've left the feathers that only got the white, but the yolked feathers are never going to come right.

 

[firestomp]

All 3 have been in the last week. Before that she was laying normal eggs. And she's laid a few normal ones this week also. She's managed to sit in two eggs now, and I can't keep trimming her belly feathers or there won't be any left! I've left the feathers that only got the white, but the yolked feathers are never going to come right.

you can always give her a warm dip in a bucket and wash with dish soap to loosen that mess if you want, Hay as a nest box material does a good job of helping with broken egg yolks all over the hens.

 

[NotSoChickenLove]

you can always give her a warm dip in a bucket and wash with dish soap to loosen that mess if you want, Hay as a nest box material does a good job of helping with broken egg yolks all over the hens.

I'm trying to avoid a wash because it's winter in NZ and I don't want a frozen chicken. The nest material is a mix of hay and shredded paper that I get from work. Just the paper by itself wasn't nice and springy textured enough. Chicken probably doesn't care! Anyway, if she does it again, I will wash her. She can't lose anymore belly feathers.

 

[NotSoChickenLove]

I have had hens turn their beaks up at the oyster shell from TSC and rural king, I have sifted it to get the fines and added it to the feed and that worked. I found on line a place that sells the flake shell, the thin inner grey parts of the shell I get 10 lbs of this and it lasts a long time and free shipping. I sift this now and give to my quail and chickens, all gobble this stuff down my eggs are hard shelled from all. This may sound crazy, but antacid tablets are 100% calcium carbonate, I have crushed these and mixed with feed as well, and it coats the pellets. I used just cheap, plain antacid tablets. Hope this helps.
I forgot to mention, all eggs used for our eating, the shells are broken some and fed back to chickens. I have so many quail eggs, we just boil the extras, chop them up and feed right back to chickens. win win here, protien and calcium.

Those are very good ideas. I'll try the grit mixed in with the feed first. Never thought of that. Thanks!

 

[firestomp]

I'm trying to avoid a wash because it's winter in NZ and I don't want a frozen chicken. The nest material is a mix of hay and shredded paper that I get from work. Just the paper by itself wasn't nice and springy textured enough. Chicken probably doesn't care! Anyway, if she does it again, I will wash her. She can't lose anymore belly feathers.

I didn't know where you were, you can add that to your profile if you wish. I wouldn't worry about the feathers then, there sure isn't any fly issues there right now.Good luck

 

[firestomp]

Those are very good ideas. I'll try the grit mixed in with the feed first. Never thought of that. Thanks!

There is a big breakdown of food grade Diatomaceous Earth use as a great calcium booster, just seen it in the alerts area. here is the person that posted it and it is under shell less egg in alerts.https://www.backyardchickens.com/members/ronott1.84712/

 

[GC-Raptor]

I've previously posted about a chicken that had to have her feathers trimmed because she'd glued them into a giant mess by sitting in a broken egg. Now I've discovered that it's because she's laying soft shelled eggs. Today's would be her third, although she's had mostly normal hard shelled ones, and hard shelled ones in between. She's got oyster grit, she's getting a good quality commercial laying pellet, and she free ranges as well. She's only been laying a few weeks. Is there anything I should be doing, or is it most likely a function of a newly operational egg laying system???

Try less free ranging. She may not be eating enough layers feed to get enough vitamins, nutrients and calcium.
I let my girls out to free range 2 hours before sunset. This way they eat plenty of layers feed during the day to get all nutrients and vitamins needed for a strong shell. I also provide oyster shell in a separate container. GC