Soft shells from both pullets

[kllyjansen]

Hello All,

I have a couple pullets have been laying for just over a month now. For the past 3 weeks I've been getting about 6 eggs from each a week with great shell quality. This morning I checked on their coop and found that both had passed soft shelled eggs while roosting at night. If it had been just one of them, I wouldn't be too concerned and would have chalked it up to a new layer, but considering it hit both of them at the same time that has me on the hunt for the cause.

They are free range with 24/7 access to water, Layena Layer Pellets, and oyster shells. They do not really seem to like the layer pellets or the oyster shells, but I do see them eating the pellets regularly. I never see them consuming the oyster shells. I plan on switching their feed when this bag runs out, but I hate to waste unnecessarily and throw it away now.

We have had some of our hottest days of the summer this week with temperatures in the high 90s and even breaking over 100 on Sunday.

They seem very normal and alert, perhaps a little chattier/nosier than usual.

Thoughts?

 

[cavemanrich]

The feed is a good one. The oyster shells is also good. Remember that your chickens are young, They just maybe ran short of calcium in their system to possibly overproducing, or the high heat affected them. I know that the oyster shells free choice is not always consumed like we wish. Chickens sometimes overlook it. It is OK to throw some (not much) into their feed. If they don't want it, they will leave it behind. It is not such that they will overdose on it. They don't like the pellets because the pellets are bland in taste compared to free range food. Chickens that are confined to runs and there is nothing else. OF COURSE THEY WOLF DOWN THE PELLETS QUICK.... Hunger speaks for itself.

WISHING YOU BEST

 

[kllyjansen]

Thanks for the reply!

But now I'm TOTALLY confused. There were two totally normal eggs in the laying boxes this afternoon. WHAT???? I have 3 total birds... I think only two of them are laying, but it's possible the third has started sneaking in an egg here and there. But even if all three of them laid an egg today, I have a mysterious extra 4th egg. So in summary: I have 3 pullets, this morning we had 2 super soft shelled eggs beneath their roost, this afternoon we have 2 regular eggs. What's happening?? LOL

 

[cavemanrich]

Their hormones are exaggerating. Some things happen unexpectedly. You will see that as these pullets mature, their laying will be more predictable.

 

[aart]

Maybe your 3rd bird has started laying....and the 2 softshells were from her?

The heat is definitely a stressor.

You won't see them eat much oyster shell, they don't need much or very often...they eat a few pieces and it slowly dissolves inside.

Why do you think you need to change their feed?

 

[k9loki]

I am having a similar issue. I have six chickens that started laying a month or so ago. Nearly every day over the past week, I have found what appears to be a deflated, extremely thin shelled egg "carcass" in the run or the roosting part of the coop. Sometimes two in a day. Never in the nesting box. It is always a cream colored egg. Never a brown egg. I have two Rhode Island Reds, two speckled Sussex, 1 silver laced wyandotte and 1 easter egger. I have only found two blue eggs and I just found those in the past week. My girls used to free range until a hawk started picking them off. Now they are in a run. They are fed layer ration crumbles as well as free choice Oystershell and additional treats here and there. Is someone tossing eggs out of the nesting box and cannibalizing them? Or are somebody's girl parts not quite functioning yet? I know heat can be a factor, and it has been pretty stinking hot and humid here over the past week. Should I be terribly concerned? I took a picture of one of these deflated eggs but I cannot figure out how to post it in this reply . I do collect 3-5 eggs per day from these ladies.

 

[cavemanrich]

I am having a similar issue. I have six chickens that started laying a month or so ago. Nearly every day over the past week, I have found what appears to be a deflated, extremely thin shelled egg "carcass" in the run or the roosting part of the coop. Sometimes two in a day. Never in the nesting box. It is always a cream colored egg. Never a brown egg. I have two Rhode Island Reds, two speckled Sussex, 1 silver laced wyandotte and 1 easter egger. I have only found two blue eggs and I just found those in the past week. My girls used to free range until a hawk started picking them off. Now they are in a run. They are fed layer ration crumbles as well as free choice Oystershell and additional treats here and there. Is someone tossing eggs out of the nesting box and cannibalizing them? Or are somebody's girl parts not quite functioning yet? I know heat can be a factor, and it has been pretty stinking hot and humid here over the past week. Should I be terribly concerned? I took a picture of one of these deflated eggs but I cannot figure out how to post it in this reply . I do collect 3-5 eggs per day from these ladies.

IT MAY BE THE GIRL PART NOT FUNCTIONING FULLY YET. Try to spot which one is dropping the softies. You may also add a few of those oyster shells into the layer crumbles. If they don't want it, then they will omit eating it. It will just be left at the bottom of the feeder. Do not fear that you will over dose them with those oyster shells. If chickens don't want to eat something , they wont.

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