soft shelled eggs

tom076

Chirping
6 Years
Mar 27, 2016
11
3
77
Dardanelle, Arkansas
Hey gang, I have a small flock of mixed breeds, RIR, Wyondottes, New Hamp Red, Americuna, 10 hens and a rooster. Ages from 1 year to maybe 4 years for oldest. I'm having an issue with fragile eggs 1 to 3 a day, I get a total of 6 to 9 eggs a day. Feed pelletized 19% layer feed and free choice oyster shells. 1 cup of scatch shared by the flock per day. Occasional, vegetables, and yogurt. 10 x 10 chain link run opened most afternoons to allow free range, no apparent stress. What can I do to improve egg shell construction?
 
I am having the same issue with my 2 yr old leghorn. Today I’m worried one broke inside her she’s my favorite girl. Idk what to do?

They aren’t stressed, crowded, old, diet is perfect ... good luck with your chick
 
Any idea which birds are laying softies?
Maybe the older ones?
Did they all molt over winter and are just starting back up laying?
I'd cut out the scratch and extras for a week or two.
 
No idea, I have 4 older hens about 3 - 4 years old and 6 hatched last Apr. Only one older hen molted over the winter, none of the yearlings have molted yet. My eggs have never been super strong shelled, I'll try cutting treats back and just feed them 19% layer. Thanks for the input. Tom
 
No idea, I have 4 older hens about 3 - 4 years old and 6 hatched last Apr. Only one older hen molted over the winter, none of the yearlings have molted yet. My eggs have never been super strong shelled, I'll try cutting treats back and just feed them 19% layer. Thanks for the input. Tom
Do you use supplemental lighting?
Odd the older hens didn't molt.
They may molt now and be slowing down production to do so.
 
I have a flock of 5 one-year-old hens and 2 are giving me soft shells. I have it narrowed down to three hens. It has been going on for about a month or so and up here we are just seeing the first bit of spring. We were giving them scratch to help them through the cold winter and have tapered it off and added oyster shells along with saving and re-feeding their own shells back to them. They get scraps, yogurt, and mealworms a few times a week. No other signs of illness or stress. I am looking for ideas too since I am fairly new at all this and have 7 new 2 month olds I am adding to this flock. Read about parasites and have some kelp on order to add to the rotation. Anything else I should be looking for? Doing?
 
... I have a small flock... Ages from 1 year to maybe 4... [&] I'm having an issue with fragile eggs 1 to 3 a day...

I'll be watching this tread as well....

I am having the same issue with my 2 yr old leghorn....

Do a Google type search for chicken diseases like Newcastle and Infectious Bronchitis. Both of these diseases negatively affect a hens ability to lay eggs with strong eggshells. Put your remembering cap on and see if you remember any of the symptoms of these diseases being present in your flock.
 

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