Soft shelled eggs!

[mando4mary74]

We added a new flock member last week and now one of our hens is laying soft eggs from the roost at night. 2 nights now. Can the stress of a new member cause this? It's not the new hen, I've caught her laying already a normal egg. The hen is normal otherwise. Eating, drinking, even running. What can I do to help her lay normal eggs again???? Thank you all so much! This page is priceless to me seeing this is our first year raising chickens.

 

[staceyj]

And you’ve never had problems with that one before?
How old is she?

Are you providing oyster shell? If yes, maybe she doesn’t care for it.

Try giving her a human calcium supplement a few days in a row and see if that helps or if you save and sterilize egg shells she if she’ll eat them.

 

[mando4mary74]

And you’ve never had problems with that one before?
How old is she?

Are you providing oyster shell? If yes, maybe she doesn’t care for it.

Try giving her a human calcium supplement a few days in a row and see if that helps or if you save and sterilize egg shells she if she’ll eat them.

No, she laid normal for a couple of weeks. She just started laying 3 weeks ago. I just put oyster shell out this morning. I wondered if she wasn't get as much to eat with the new flock member so I'm going to put another bowl of food out in a different location. Thanks for your response! This has me baffled!

 

[staceyj]

Since she’s a new layer I wouldn’t get terribly worried yet, but it shouldn’t go on.

I think your idea of a second food station is a good one and monitor her intake of the oyster shell.
I have a bowl of it in my run. I notice that when I renew iT they really seem to go for it, but if it sits and gets moist from blowing rain they don’t touch it so I have to dump it. I keep my big bag of it in a storage container in the the garage to keep it dry and fresh.

 

[Hyper_Chicken05]

I’m far from an expert on eggs, But I’m pretty sure stress and lack of nutrients or calcium can cause soft shelled eggs

 

[mando4mary74]

Since she’s a new layer I wouldn’t get terribly worried yet, but it shouldn’t go on.

I think your idea of a second food station is a good one and monitor her intake of the oyster shell.
I have a bowl of it in my run. I notice that when I renew iT they really seem to go for it, but if it sits and gets moist from blowing rain they don’t touch it so I have to dump it. I keep my big bag of it in a storage container in the the garage to keep it dry and fresh.

Thank you so much. I will try all of this and see. If it's stress, is there anything I can do?

 

[mando4mary74]

I’m far from an expert on eggs, But I’m pretty sure stress and lack of nutrients or calcium can cause soft shelled eggs

Thanks! I'm hoping she will adjust soon!

 

[staceyj]

I find that communal treat time can be benificial for “bringing the family together” but also making sure that they have plenty of space to get away from each other and hiding spots.

Since you added a new one and didn’t mention anything about a quarantine period, stay alert for any health changes in your flock over the next few months.

And welcome to BYC!

 

[mando4mary74]

I find that communal treat time can be benificial for “bringing the family together” but also making sure that they have plenty of space to get away from each other and hiding spots.

Since you added a new one and didn’t mention anything about a quarantine period, stay alert for any health changes in your flock over the next few months.

And welcome to BYC!

Thanks. We got our new one from a dear friend and observed her for a while along with his flock. What should we look for? No one seems to be feeling bad so far, but, just in case what type of symptoms would warrant concern?