Eggs with no shell??

[kathyd]

Hi

I'm aware that chickens can sometimes lay a 'soft shelled' egg for various reasons, but I've had several now over a period of several weeks which appear to have no shell at all - sometimes I'm not even sure if there's a membrane, just a white and a yolk... Is this something that can happen as young birds get ready to lay for the first time? Or is it more likely to be something weird going on with an adult layer? Today one of my hens must have laid an egg in the porch on the tiles, because when I came back in 5 of them were clustered around it gobbling it up like there was no tomorrow... There was just white, and I think yolk, running around in a sticky fashion, but no sign of any shell at all. I have no idea which bird it was, so don't know if it was one of the 2 adults currently laying or one of the POL birds. When it's happened before it's tended to be in the coop overnight. Any comments / suggestions / advice please?

[frias]

One of my POL I got this year laid a few softies at first and sometimes not in the nest box. Some of my ex-batts have also laid softies at the end of their laying days but always laid them in the nest box. Based on these 2 facts I would say it's likely to be a new girl and hopefully she will soon learn to put a shell on. Do your girls have access to plenty of oyster shell? There are also lots of other ways to get more calcium into their diet like limestone flour and cod liver oil.

[Scarlet]

It could be a calcium or vitamins deficiency as Frais suggests or an old hen(?) at the end of her laying life but reading your previous posts I would cut out the treats first- stick to layers pellets throughout the day and a handful of corn late afternoon.

[Donny]

Just crush the used egg shells after microwaving them for about 4 mins, feed them with it every time you top the food up. They may also be coming out of lay for a month or 2.

[kathyd]

Thanks all - I'll increase the calcium again then, and try to see if I can get hold of some multivitamins - had problems finding any over here so far, but will try a different shop today. I do use crushed baked eggshells which I chuck in with the pellets, and I've started adding any 'extras' like mealworms to a pellet mash rather than giving them with pasta or rice, as suggested by someone previously - and pellet intake has definitely increased, thanks! They also have mixed grit plus pure oyster shell available all day. So hopefully it's one of the newbies learning to lay, and I can look forward to more eggies in the next few weeks .

[Scarlet]

I would also cut out the pasta and rice - they don't need it, there isn't any goodness in it for them. Stick to your layers pellets.

Be mean! It's like saying no to chocolate for the kids! They will be better off without it.

[Suechooks]

Beware of giving too much extra calcium as this can cause other problems. If they're getting a balanced diet as everyone has already said the calcium content should be ok especially if you have mixed grit and oystershell available. This time of year they're more likely to need Vitamin D as there's less daylight. Try some codliver oil in their mash a couple of times a week and this will help absorb the calcium. Eggs without any shell at all indicates a blip in the laying cycle usually in old or young hens rather than a calcium deficiency.

[RichmondHens]

As others have said, more pellet and less of everything else will ensure they get enough of the vital vitamins and minerals. They shouldn't really need a supplement as layers pellets are formulated with the right balance in. It's only when they fill up on treats that they start getting less of the stuff that's needed. Be strict, as Scarlet says, and you should notice a difference in a few weeks.

[kathyd]

Hello again )

I've done what you've all been saying and they haven't had any rice, pasta, bread or potatoes for a few days now. I've still been giving them odds and ends but trying to be healthier - mealworms with a bit of porridge this morning, and a bit of sardine for protein (I was told to increase protein for a while, this is my compromise!!).

I've been watching them today and they've definitely increased their pellet intake, thank you. I give them their normal pellets in the morning, and then after they've had their wheat mix before bed I've been giving them more pellets softened in hot water and with a teaspoon of oil from the sardine tin added. I've separated this into 4 small dishes and scattered them around, and ALL of them have been eating them quite happily, and then going back to their basic pellets if still hungry. Pellets obviously taste far better in flowery cereal bowls nearer the house than they do in their big feeding dish near the coop.... Anyway, I'm feeling quite virtuous at the moment and the chickens seem very happy with life in general, so we're all smiling here . Thanks again for the advice.