Starting then stopping laying? Is this normal?

[Chicabeaka]

I recently added a Australorp to my flock. When I got her the farmer told me that she should start laying within a couple of weeks. Well what do you know, she layed on her second day! It was a small egg. Another small egg two days later. A long skinnyish double yolk a couple of days later then two normal eggs in the next few days.

I believe that she had just started laying because of the pattern of her eggs.

After her last normal egg, she sat right in front of me, had a weird look on her face and layed an egg without any real shell. There was just a little bit of a soft one. The other chickens ran up and grabbed it before I knew what was happening. I got the egg and yolk out of there because I do not want them to start eating their eggs.

Anyway, it's been about 10 days now and she hasn't laid another one. I check the next boxes several times a day and look all over the coop and cannot find any or any signs of egg yolk or anything (in case they were eating them).

I am getting a little concerned. Is this normal?

Thanks!

 

[aart]

New layers can take up to a month or so for things to smooth out.
Soft and thin shells are not unusual and fair game to eat IMO,
and will not necessarily lead to egg eating, but it's best to gather them at first chance.

Are you sure she hasn't laid another?
Do they free range?
She may have laid another softie and it got eaten.