Very soft egg

[junebuggena]

Have they only recently started laying?

 

[HomeBirthMama]

They've been laying for at least a month and a half.

 

[junebuggena]

They've been laying for at least a month and a half.

Still recent enough for the occasional hiccup in the egg production system. Pretty normal for pullets.

 

[HomeBirthMama]

Well, I just don't understand why one hen started acting lethargic and died.

 

[junebuggena]

Could she have gotten wet and chilled? Silkies are more prone to chilling then other breeds due to their feathering.

 

[HomeBirthMama]

I don't think she got chilled. I don't think she's been wet for awhile. But it could be a possibility. We live in Tennessee. It hasn't been freezing yet. There is one hen that's totally fine. Then another hen who is laying "popped" eggs. The popped egg hen is fairly active. But she went in early tonight. Hopefully she'll be ok.

 

[ChickenMannR]

Could just be because they are newer layers, as they are only 7 mo. old. To restate, feed plenty of oyster shell, just a bunch in a dish on the ground, in the area they hang out at, as they will grab it if they need it. Also find a hen boost powder, if you can.

 

[HomeBirthMama]

Update: the hen laying soft eggs comes out in the mornings. She goes up into the coop in the afternoon, much earlier than her friends. She hasn't laid any eggs for awhile. She is not lethargic, so that's good. She'll come down if the rooster calls her to give her a treat.
I still don't know what happened to the hen who died, but it looks like the other hen is going to make it.
Thanks for your help everyone.