Suddenly a soft shelled egg

[chicknik11]

Hi all,

Today I noticed one of my Silkie hens layed a soft shelled egg, which is really strange as she's been laying perfect hard shelled eggs since I got her. She also had some rather large smelly poops. What's wrong with her?

 

[chicknik11]

Anyone??

 

[shortgrass]

Is she getting enough calcium in her feed? A lack if calcium will cause the shell to be weak and not form completely. As long as they have sufficient calcium, she should lay a normal one next time; could have just been a fluke egg.

 

[chicknik11]

My whole flock gets oyster shell and layer pellets. It's just really unexpected as just yesterday she layed a normal hard shelled egg as she has been since I bought her.

 

[aart]

How long have you had her?
How old is she?

Not unusual for a bird to occasionally lay a softie, they can be harder to get out and that could have plugged up her pooper temporarily, thus the large dropping.

As long as it doesn't happen regularly, it's probably just a glitch.

 

[chicknik11]

I've had her for 2 months. She's almost 2 years old.
This is the first time it's happened since I've had her. Hopefully it is one of those things that just randomly happens.

 

[aart]

I've had her for 2 months. She's almost 2 years old.
This is the first time it's happened since I've had her. Hopefully it is one of those things that just randomly happens.

It could be that she's getting ready to molt.....
.....sometimes going into molt and/or coming out of molt you get some funky eggs, just like when they first start laying.

I don't know much about silkies but, I assume they have an annual molt starting about 18 months of age?

 

[shortgrass]

Lol aart... "Plugged up pooper"... I'm going to remember that one

Molting could be itvtoo...weather change... I get one once in a while; I just toss it before someone tries to eat it, and on we go... As long as its just occasionally, I don't fret, they just have an " off" day every once in a while.

I personally like the plugged up pooper theory

 

[chicknik11]

Thanks aart and shortgrass for your replies.

I'm in Australia and its spring here now, do chickens usually molt at this time of year?
I will be keeping an eye on her today, see if she lays another softie or not.

 

[aart]

Thanks aart and shortgrass for your replies.

I'm in Australia and its spring here now, do chickens usually molt at this time of year?
I will be keeping an eye on her today, see if she lays another softie or not.

Ahh...well, they usually molt in fall...but it can happen anytime
Best to put your location in your profile...usually I ask hemisphere, but forgot this time.

If more softies happen, can delve deeper.