Young Pullet and Soft Eggs

[PachecoPeeps]

We currently have 6 pullets who will be 17 weeks on Wednesday. 3 are Sapphire Gems and 3 Cuckoo Marans. We know two of the Gems started laying this week because we saw them do it. All of our chickens are on all flock because we have varying ages mixed in right now but they have oyster shells provided.

My concern is that for the last 3 days every morning there is a soft egg laid in the coop (not nesting box) under the roosting bars. Should I be starting to get worried? How do I figure out who is laying it?

The weather has been 100+ for the last 4 days, could that have anything to do with it?

Thank you for the help and advice.

 

[mrskenmore]

Hi there and congrats on the first eggs! Always an exciting and nervous time in the coop for sure.

In my experience my pullets laid a few softies first go around as well- they are sometimes just getting the kinks out of the system. Make sure they have plenty of food and water and shade during those hot days and keep an eye on them... they should be laying hard eggs as the time goes on. It sometimes happens in the overnight when they are on their roost as I have been told they can't feel the difference between a soft egg and regular poop. Also you may want to put some fake eggs or golf balls in the nesting boxes to get them used to where to lay.

 

[Cluck17]

Since it is their first few eggs it's normal to see that because their body needs to get used to laying eggs. If you see these for a week then you need to see a vet or make sure they are not sick. Usually a soft shell egg means they are low in calcium The heat is probably a factor too. Make sure they have vitamin and electrolyte and they are cool.

 

[PachecoPeeps]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I thought the same thing about them just thinking they had to poo during the night too. Two of the gems have laid regular eggs so I’m not sure if it’s the other gem having problems or one of the other two laying an extra egg at night.

 

[Tsjschickens]

My isa brown pullets just started laying this week and have been getting soft shelled eggs also. Its also been very hot. They are not even using the nesting boxes, just ploping them out wherever.

 

[aart]

@mrskenmore has given an excellent explanation.

they have oyster shells provided

Are they eating them? If not, try sprinkling a bit of the oyster shell on top of the feed where they can check it out.....also can sprinkle a bit of scratch grains on top of the oyster shells to draw attention to them. I'm assuming the oyster shells are in a separate container always available.

 

[cmom]

Some people disagree with this but I put some oyster shells in with their feed and they take what they want. I do the same with some grit since I do give the birds some grain treats when I collect the eggs in the evenings. I use to put it in non tip over bowls but found most of it ending up on the floor. It is not unusual for new layers to have a few oddities while they are working out the laying kinks. I also put golf balls in the nest boxes. I recently had a broody sitting on golf balls. I guess she is a bird brain.

 

[PachecoPeeps]

Well this morning there was no soft egg! So that’s exciting. Hopefully I don’t get one later in the day I ended up sprinkling the oyster shell around yesterday so maybe that helped? I had hoped they would have learned to eat the oyster shell out of the container by watching the old hens but I know chickens can take awhile to learn sometimes.

Thanks again for all of the help and advice.

 

[aart]

I use to put it in non tip over bowls but found most of it ending up on the floor.

I made these for oyster/egg shells and one for grit. 32oz plastic salsa jar/bottle.

 

[cmom]

Great idea...