[susiedig]

Can anyone advise as to why, out of 13 laying hens, one of them has recently started laying a very soft shelled egg? The diet is obviously the same for them all, so I don't think it can be a dietry problem....any suggestions please?

[Jane-M]

Sometimes I get a late egg (evening time) in the nest box that is perfect in every way except the "shell" is just a dusting of white granular powder. I have decided, maybe erroneously, that this is actually tomorrow morning's egg that has arrived too quickly and the shell has not been properly formed. This is a very different soft egg from the ones I have during the winter which are just in a wobbly skin, always seem to be laid from the perch and burst on impact with the floor!!

[susiedig]

We were getting them too. Every morning there was a floppy membrame on the floor, but now this has stopped so I suppose this soft shell is an improvement - lol. However, the shell is sometimes formed all except the very top of the shell and sometimes, like this morning, it is so fragile that just picking it up breaks it immediately.

I empty the boxes every evening of any late eggs, this is definately laid either very late or first thing....

[kellym]

i have been getting soft shelled eggs for the last week form one of my girls. i brought them extra oyster shell as suggested on here as it could be a calcium deffieciency. im still really new to all this so like you im still seeking advice but hope i have helped a little   

[susiedig]

Thanks all......I have added some Oyster shekk recently so I#ll wait and see if there is any improvement.

[Jane-M]

If you want to find out more (more than you ever thought you would want or need to know  ) go to this site http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/1/egg-quality-handbook