Three Soft Eggs at Once! Problem?

[missgiven]

Hi there...

So I have a young barred rock that just started laying in the last week. I estimate that she is about 21 weeks old. She started out laying 2 soft shelled or shell less eggs from the roost during the night. She kept that up for two nights. Then yesterday there was only one soft egg I found outside the coop. I didn't find anything this morning so I figured she was taking a rest. Later this evening I noticed her in the yard looking like she was about to lay and noticably struggling. She finally went into the nesting box and after an hour around 7PM I went to check and there were two whole soft shell eggs and what must be the membrane of a third egg and there was yolk all over the nest. She is obviously stressed. Is this something to be concerned about, or is it because she is a new layer? 3 eggs seems pretty insane, but I know it was her.

I started giving oyster shell once my ladies were laying and I've seen her eat it. She free ranges all day and has access to layer crumble also. I'm a little nervous because this really took a toll on her. I'm hoping she feels better after some rest. Will she eventually get the kinks worked out, or does this seem like a bigger problem?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Three is'nt that strange as she did take a day off. She was obviously a bit backed up and cleaned herself out. If you don't use layer feed toss a handful of oyster shell on the ground each week.

Perfectly normal for first eggs to be soft and to catch them by surprise. Good that she figured it out and is using the nest right away. The reproductive tract develops at slightly different rates so shelless or double shelled and many goofy things accur as it works itself out. Just make sure to supply oyster shell or layer feed for the added calcium she needs for making shells on eggs.

 

[missgiven]

Thanks. It sounds crazy, but there was another egg under her roosting spot this morning. This time it was a hard shell, though it felt brittle. So, between 7pm yesterday and 7am this morning she has laid 4 eggs! She is acting like her normal self again, but I will keep an eye on her. Hope she gets the hang of this soon! I have two other hens that started laying within days of each other, but they have been very consistent.

Her name is Crazy Betty and she lives up to her name everyday!

 

[csaylorchickens]

It each I had a hen laying no shell eggs for a week straight and more than one a day too and he wasn't making it to the nesting box either. I threw oyster shell on the ground as well as give yogurt three times a week and now everything is great!