[moomoos42]

I hope I've managed to attach a picture of the egg i collected today.
The shell broke as i was dating it, so it was thin.
When i broke it into a glass i noticed a long white membrane running along the yoke. I showed mum-in-law and she said it looked like the start of an embryo.
Just one thing, i have no cockerel!
Can anyone tell me what it is an is it anything to worry about?
my 2 ex bats and my 3 original Gal's are all fine after the hard winter but i know hens can hide illness well 
Thank you.

[Springlands]

Hi Moomoos42 - your egg looks perfectly normal - the membrane is called the chalazae and holds the yolk to the egg white. Where you do have a problem is with the soft shell - you could try giving the hens some oyster grit to help strengthen their shells. Hope this helps.

[moomoos42]

Thank you
As I've lost two hens in my first year of keeping them i am a bit paranoid!
I do give them grit but yesterday i noticed all the shell had gone so i topped it up.
I use a mixed grit would just oyster shells be better? 

[Springlands]

Hens can be so strange sometimes - we have one who is about six years old now. She does not lay eggs but still bullies the other hens and she came through the winter really well. And then our Welsummer who was still quite young just upped and died on us.

The mixed grit and shell should be fine although from what you say the hens are picking out the oyster shell - they must realise what they need so maybe some shell on its own would also be a good idea.