[sussexchook]

ive just got my first soft shelled egg this morning is there something wrong with the hen im not sure what it means

[joyfull]

How old are your hens and do they have access to greens and crushed oyster shell?

[sussexchook]

I have 7 hens all ranging from a new layer up to 3 years I think and they get greens but I don't really get the oyster shell they get the grit off the floor

[joyfull]

grit and oyster shells are two different things - grit helps them to grind their food as they have no teeth and oyster shell slowly dissolves inside them to provide calcium. The greens are there to help them absorb the calcium. They need all 3 

[sussexchook]

ok thanks I will get some for them is that going to stop the soft shells

[joyfull]

deficiency of calcium can be a major cause of soft shelled eggs also age can play an important factor - when a hen is coming to the end of her egg laying age they can lay soft shelled eggs.

[sussexchook]

ok thanks very much

[ANHBUC]

As joyfull says they need both grit and crushed oyster shell.  If they can't get the right sized grit out of the garden they will be unable to digest their food properly which can lead to difficiencies, one of which would be calcium.