Why do I ALWAYS lay softshell eggs?

[aart]

Seems like the soft-shell layers sometimes don't know they are laying eggs!

I think that's true....it must feel strange....I've seen them stand stock still until it finally comes out. Many I've found on the roost boards, or the remains as they are usually mostly eaten if they get broken. Also the contractions have a hard time moving a soft shell.

 

[wdscully]

I have a 21 week old that seems to lay 2 soft shelled eggs on the dropping board once a week or so (one bird, 2 eggs in one night, which doesn't seem right to me but both soft shells are brown...I have 2 brown layers and one lays just fine), but so far has not laid any viable eggs. I mix crushed shells into their layer feed but it doesn't seem to be helping. Hoping it's just her age? Of my 4 birds (RIR, Leghorn, BSL, Americana) only the BSL is laying an argh a day. I am open to trying other things if anyone has any suggestions .

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have a 21 week old that seems to lay 2 soft shelled eggs on the dropping board once a week or so (one bird, 2 eggs in one night, which doesn't seem right to me but both soft shells are brown...I have 2 brown layers and one lays just fine), but so far has not laid any viable eggs. I mix crushed shells into their layer feed but it doesn't seem to be helping. Hoping it's just her age? Of my 4 birds (RIR, Leghorn, BSL, Americana) only the BSL is laying an argh a day. I am open to trying other things if anyone has any suggestions .

Your hens are young and I assume have just started to lay. Sometimes they need to work the glitches out of the system. Some can take even a few months to straighten out.

 

[wdscully]

Thanks for the input. That's what I was hoping to hear .

 

[azygous]

Over the decade I've been keeping chickens, I've had a couple of huge-egg layers. They eventually developed egg-related complications.

One was an EE, but my current one is a Cream Legbar. These girls experienced noticeable discomfort during the laying process, and the eggs passed would be so huge that I could not get the lid to close on the egg carton.

Be aware that your hen may be headed for such complications, and be ready for it.

 

[AVAZQUEZ]

one of my chicks laid an egg with what seemed to be just the membrane no hard shell. we have a total of 3 chicks as of now one chick is laying 1 small egg daily (will the eggs get bigger the more they lay?) and what can I do about the soft egg, this only happened once and they just started laying 4 days ago (I am new to all of this please help) THank you

 

[aart]

I am new to all of this please help

Welcome to BYC!
I think your question has been answered, did you read all the posts in this thread?

 

[Gramma Chick]

one of my chicks laid an egg with what seemed to be just the membrane no hard shell.( I call that a silicone egg ) (I am new to all of this please help) THank you

it should itself work out ...the egg laying system is just starting...up ...make sure they are on layer now ..
I would not worry unless it is a every time thing .Remember you see all the weird eggs your chicken lays ....Those odd ones have been culled out of the perfect store bought eggs

 

[AVAZQUEZ]

it should itself work out ...the egg laying system is just starting...up ...make sure they are on layer now ..
I would not worry unless it is a every time thing .Remember you see all the weird eggs your chicken lays ....Those odd ones have been culled out of the perfect store bought eggs

Thank you, they are layer food now. I will keep looking out to see if it continues. I am happy to be getting one egg a day (wish I knew from which chick) can't wait till they are all laying!!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

it should itself work out ...the egg laying system is just starting...up ...make sure they are on layer now ..
I would not worry unless it is a every time thing .Remember you see all the weird eggs your chicken lays ....Those odd ones have been culled out of the perfect store bought eggs

They don't need to be on layer, they need a source of calcium like oyster shells. Layer isn't necessary.

Odd eggs are normal as they system fires up or shuts down.