Soft shelled / shell less eggs.

[GD91]

Hi guys & ladies

I've been having issues with my 4 young hens. They have all been laying soft shelled or shell less eggs the past few days.

One hen is now laying normally again the last 2 days after I've been feeding back eggshells & adding some bone calcium from the dogs calcium source to homemade treats & I've added calcium to their water. I've also scattered crushed eggshell around the garden since they are allowed to roam.
But I didn't find any eggs from the other 3 today that were shelled or otherwise. Yesterday I found 3 shell less eggs.

Can you tell me:

How long does it take for the shells to form again?

Is there anything else I can feed them?

Is it just because they are so young? They've only been laying 2 weeks or so & its their first year laying


Their feed is layers pellets mixed into a sack of chick crumbles, obviously its not providing enough calcium per pound of feed.

I was planning to supplement anyway since I have a cockerel, but we haven't got any oyster shell

no money to buy any either right now.

 

[Serenity Sav]

Cheese works well to supplement calcium, if you have any. My girls love it.

 

[crazyhen]

Oyster shell calcium is ideal. A bag will last a very long time and is worth the investment. If you have any yogurt, old milk or any dairy product. I like to buy cheap yogurt and mix it into their feed when they are getting ready to lay. It works well. So does cottage cheese. I give them the old one. One that has the date about to expire or has expired.