[Little Red Hen]

Around 6 this morning we woke to loud squawking in the hen house.  We got there as fast as we could and found everyone in a panic, a soft shelled egg in two pieces and one of the hens eating it.  It was mayhem.  Please tell me that this soft egg is a one off or only something that happens when hens first start laying.  Now I have Tilly scarfing the egg down and I couldn't get her away from it!  So there's two problems.  The hens get Organic Layer Pellets, water with cider vinegar, Poultry Spice, and there's a container of grit for them, and yesterday free ranged for most of the day.  The hen that I suspected (a Calder Ranger) is back in the nest box again now.  All the hens seem perfectly fine.

[Vember]

They normally are just a one off either at the beginning of laying or towards the end. 
You can get them at other times but so long as it's not a regular thing then it's nothing to worry about So long as they have plenty of oyster shell to go at then there is no reason why she wont lay a normal egg after

As for eating it, mine have eaten the odd soft shelled egg and it hasn't become habit with them, but all hens are different so keep an eye on them 

If she continues to lay soft shells it might be worth getting some limestone powder to mix in with feed


Sarah

[Little Red Hen]

Thanks so much for this.  Let's hope her next attempt is a triumph!