Weird first egg at exactly 18 weeks

[Ccort]

I just found this broken egg and it was right below their roost in the coop. I think maybe they laid it at night or early AM?
It's has a soft/almost slightly crispy shell and is broken. I'm brand new to this but almost looks like the shell wasn't "done" by being softer in one area than the other.
I have no clue what chicken laid this.
1. Is this normal?
2. How should I proceed?
3. Why wouldn't they have laid it in a nest box?

Note...I am just switching them from chick grower to all flock food. Currently transitioning and just set oyster shells out today, before seeing this.

 

[Ridgerunner]

A hen laying an egg is a pretty complicated process. First, her internal egg making factory has to put all the parts together. It is not unusual for a pullet to not get it all right. That's why you can get thin-shelled, no shell, really thick shelled, double yolked, no yolks, no whites eggs, or really weird shaped eggs. Usually the pullets get the kinks out of that system fairly soon but some take longer than others. It is surprising to me how many actually get an egg put together correctly the first time.

Part of laying that egg is to know when and where to lay it. Most seem to have control over that part from the start. They may look for a good nesting sight a week before that first egg comes. They are supposed to have "triggers" that tells them when to release a yolk so it can travel through their egg making system and be ready to lay during daylight hours. But some of them don't get that part ahead of time. That first egg seems to surprise them. They may drop their egg wherever they happen to be, on the roost or just walking around. Again, the ones that don't have control seem to work these kinks out fairly quickly, usually just a few days. If it goes on longer than two weeks you might have a problem. Until then I would not worry. She's just taking her internal egg making factory through a shakedown cruise.

If a rock is shaped and sized pretty close to an egg it could work. You can get ceramic or wooden eggs at many craft shops. Some people use those plastic Easter eggs, but the hens tend to scratch them apart. I tried putting sand in some and gluing or taping them shut but that did not last that long. Now I use golf balls.

It is possible for any of these problems to occur with older established hens. That internal factory is pretty complicated. If that is an occasional occurrence I don't worry about it. I feel everyone is entitled to an occasional oops. If it becomes consistent then you have an issue.

Since it is her first egg and weird first eggs aren't unusual, don't beat yourself up about the calcium. It likely would not have made any difference in that egg anyway. The problem is likely not that she was short on calcium, her body just didn't know how to use it.

But I suggest you offer a calcium supplement on the side. I prefer oyster shells, they are inexpensive and so easy. Just offer them on the side, either in a feeder or toss them on the run floor. The ones that need them for eggshells seem to realize it and eat them. The others might eat a few but should not eat enough to harm themselves. That is a very common way to provide extra calcium when some need it and some don't.

 

[Ccort]

As others have said, odd eggs are normal for new layers.

I like golf balls in my nests, in part because I can tell them by touch when rummaging round under a broody.

I happened to have just ONE single golf ball. Added that plus a blue rubbery ball. Not sure if they'll fall for that one but I guess we'll see.

 

[TooCheep]

By "new to this", do you mean this is your first egg or likely the first for that chicken?

Odd eggs aren't that unusual for the first try or two- small eggs, double-yolkers, shell-less, etc. Their systems need to get into the flow of how to properly produce a full egg. Definitely a good idea to offer calcium on the side and not mixed in with their feed. All-flock is a very good option, but doesn't have enough calcium to support regular egg-laying.

As for not laying in the nest, that is also normal for the first try or two. Make sure to have fake eggs or golf balls in the nests. The next time that chicken gets "that feeling", they'll want to go where others have laid and should end up in the nest box.

 

[Mrs. K]

I have used rocks for years, they are a little heavier than golf balls which can get kicked out. My hens lay where they are suppose to, so rocks work just fine.

The calcium in layer feed, is a small amount that adds calcium over time. In a chicken, in a young chicken, there is a lot of calcium already there stored in the body. It is not important to add calcium at the beginning of laying, but rather at the end of laying. The longer a chicken lays, the more of the stores of calcium in the body have begun to be used up, and that is what the calcium is going to from the diet.

In the beginning, the calcium stored in the body is at a high amount. Much like young people do not osteoporosis, neither do young chickens.

Mrs K

 

[Ccort]

I'm up to four little good eggs now. I think just one is laying so far but the stinkers never lay when I'm home! She started using the nesting boxes. I love how different each egg looks.

 

[TooCheep]

A water balloon with content in the middle sums it up well!

I completely did not expect them to lay right under the roost. Could she have laid during the night?
I'm not surprised they'd be low on calcium because I just started switching things with today being their 18 week birthday. Apparently, they're ahead of me and I should get my butt in gear!
One of my three breeds are at laying age but all are 18 weeks. (Brahmas, barred rocks, Easter eggers) Should I stop the chick grower completely at this point and just do the bag of Kalmbach Flock Maker? Or continue to transition?

Any of those feeds can work. Just make sure that you have the calcium available on the side. When switching from feed #1 to feed #2, it is best to mix them together for a while so they get used to the new taste.

Sounds like you had a shell-less egg. It happens. I'd only be concerned on the 2nd and worried by the 3rd such egg. Laying off the roost can even happen (rarely) when they are established.

 

[3KillerBs]

As others have said, odd eggs are normal for new layers.

I like golf balls in my nests, in part because I can tell them by touch when rummaging round under a broody.

 

[Ccort]

Egg!!! This one looks great to me. Just small. It's so exciting!
What did you do with your first?

 

[TooCheep]

Very nice. I ate mine. Some people poke a hole in the top and bottom and blow out the contents to preserve it.