Poorly chook

[Ashbylife]

Can anyone give a bit of advice please, one of our chooks is looking a bit sorry for herself? She is about 30 weeks old, and the last to start laying (the first started about 3 weeks ago, another 1 week ago and the third just a few days ago).
The day before yesterday she sat on the nest for the first time, but didn't produce anything - she looked fine then and yesterday morning, but yesterday afternoon spend most of her time sat on her own, huddled up and looking miserable. This morning she is doing the same - not pecking around or anything much. When I cleaned out the ark I found an egg in the roosting area, it has a soft shell (all the others have laid eggs with really good shells from day 1), and had obviously been dropped onto the ladder bit which gets let down in the morning for the girls to come out. There was a small hole in one side, which could have happened when I let the ladder down, but I don't know for certain (I'm sure the hens didn't do it as otherwise they'd have done mor damage and eaten it). Have managed to get her to eat a bit of mashed up bread with some poultry spice in it, by shutting the others away for a bit - any other ideas would be welcome please?

[Flummery]

Laying a soft shelled egg really takes it our of a bird. The reason is that the egg doesn't put up any resistance to pushing like a hard shelled egg would. You could make sure she is getting extra calcium - oyster grit - or you can get limestone flour at horse supply places - if you moisten the feed with a little olive oil that will make the limestone flour stick. You can also offer them a bit of live yoghurt.
Now that she's passed the egg she should look up a bit - hope all goes well.

[kirsty b]

If my hens go off colour, I'll give them Marmite on bread as a boost cos its full of B vitamins.
If she's new to laying, she may just be having a hard time getting used to it.
I occasionally get a hen go grumpy for a few days, and then they perk up by themselves, but I keep a close eye on them during that time.

[MaureenHall]

Like the others have said, just give her a bit of time and a bit of extra calcium. some of mine laid softies during the summer and it really does take it out of them, much easier to lay a "proper" egg!

[Ashbylife]

Thanks all, she is definately perked up a bit tonight - back to pecking around and drinking, though not quite as mobile as the others. Will keep giving her the poultry spice and extra grit and hopefully the next egg will be a bit firmer.