Strange egg-laying behavior from our 18 week old novice layer!

[SLA]

One of our Golden Comets started laying eggs June 1. She has always used one of the nesting boxes and lays in the morning. We let our 8 pullets range in the early evening, which they love. We were surprise, then, when this golden comet (Rosie) returned to the run and flew to the highest perch and just sat. I wanted to pick her up and take her back out to the yard but hubbie said she’s just chilling. Well a few of the other girls seemed concerned and returned to the run, looking up at their “sister”. Suddenly, we hear a yelp and the girls gathering around something. We run in and see that Rosie dropped a shell-less egg and the others were eating the bright yellow yoke. We put a fast stop to that! So, laying this weird egg from a high perch, after laying regular fully-formed eggs in the nest for the last 3 weeks, seems very strange. Should we be concerned?

 

[Chuckie chicken]

I wouldn't worry about it unless it becomes a habit, she's just getting her rythmn sorted out. I have red sex links as well and have had a few soft shelled eggs laid in the evening after getting normal eggs that morning. She'll likely take the next morning off, then hopefully be back on schedule.

If I can identify the pullet that laid, I hand feed them some oyster and egg shell for a few days by mixing it in with their regular feed. I haven't had much luck with the oyster shells on their own, but some of the girls will eat ground up egg shell from my hand.

 

[SLA]

I wouldn't worry about it unless it becomes a habit, she's just getting her rythmn sorted out. I have red sex links as well and have had a few soft shelled eggs laid in the evening after getting normal eggs that morning. She'll likely take the next morning off, then hopefully be back on schedule.

If I can identify the pullet that laid, I hand feed them some oyster and egg shell for a few days by mixing it in with their regular feed. I haven't had much luck with the oyster shells on their own, but some of the girls will eat ground up egg shell from my hand.

Thanks!!