Soft shells

[prncs13]

Hi,
I have one hen that keeps laying fragile or soft shells. They all get oyster shell and egg shell in their feed. Any other ideas on how to fix this?

Thanks.
Michelle

 

[Imp]

Here's some info that may help.

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publi...ndbook/16/thinshelled-eggs-and-shellless-eggs

Occasional soft shell eggs are normal especially in new layers.

Imp

 

[MrsCluck]

Hi I bought an Araucana back in January and she arrived laying beautiful blue eggs - we had one every day for many weeks but recently over the last 3-4 weeks she will lay 3 lovely eggs 3 days on the trot then the next 4 will be soft or broken. I only feed layers pellets or mash, I bake the used egg shells and mix in the mash (if I dont have any egg shells I do mix in oyster shell even though it is offered separately just to make sure she is getting some). I may cooked vegetables once a week but not much else as I know that can be a problem. It just seems strange she is capable of laying good eggs - the only other thing that is different is a lot of my younger birds have started laying and this bird does get very vocal if they are in the nest when she wants to lay so could she be rushing her lay? I have a new coop with 12 nest boxes coming next week and if this is the problem that should sort it as only have 9 laying hens so there will be some spare. Any other ideas what is wrong? She is very healthy and active.

 

[HarryBun12]

I mentioned this in the "egg laying" section, but I have a RIR bantam that laid almost nothing but soft shelled eggs last late summer/fall. She was healthy and eating the same things my other hens were, along with the oyster shell grit. She went into molt, then didn't lay through winter and now she's a nice hard shelled egg laying dynamo. Don't know what that was about but I was close to culling her in the fall. Don't need any slackers in my little flock! Hope your hen works things out.