Soft-shelled eggs

[dunni003]

I have a seven month old brown leghorn that has been laying sporadically (1-2 eggs per week). So far, all of the eggs have had very flimsy, rubbery shells that are sometimes completely formed but usually not. Can I expect that her eggshells will harden up with time, or is there something wrong with this chicken?

 

[gritsar]

Hi and welcome to BYC!
Are you offering oyster shell as a calcium supplement to your hens/pullets?
Some hens can get by on just the calcium in their layer feed, if any. Other hens need the boost of the oyster shell. Just like humans, each chickens nutritional needs vary, based on how well their bodies utilize the nutrients.

 

[LynneP]

Well said, and often with a pullet/hen this age you get a temporary demand for more vitamins, especially B, D and E.
Try putting baby vitamins (no added iron) or poultry vitamins in the water- will not harm the rest of the flock.
It's a vulnerable age.
The vitamin D assists calcium in egg-making too.
Leghorns are big birds and often need more than the average hen.

 

[dunni003]

I am using oyster shells (free-feed) and vitamins in the water. Perhaps I am just impatient and she needs time to mature. She is the only leghorn that I have.