New girls' soft shell egg

I brought to hens home today and they have been settling in, scratching around and scaring my cat; I have left them in the enclosed run the whole time to be on the safe side.

Anyway, I've just been outside and found a broken, extremely soft-shelled white egg. The lad I bought them from said that they were due to start laying any time soon and I just wondered if this was normal for a first go, or is there a possible problem?

Any advice greatfully received!
Andrew

Each of mine have laid soft-shelled eggs when they have come into lay. One also laid a very small, chalky-textured egg that was quite cute - when I cooked it the yolk was clear. Mine seemed to go bonkers to start with and lay more than one in a day. I might be mistaken and it was more than one laying but I don't think so. General consensus seems to be that soft shelled eggs are OK to eat within a day or two of laying.

This is quite normal when chicks first start laying, although I have never eaten the first few until the shells have hardened through any risk of Salmonella (even from fresh bedding/shed etc).  But the dogs love them. 

If possible don't let other birds get to the eggs to eat them otherwise this will become a habit and you will end up with no eggs left to collect.  In this case it is more likely that the shell has ruptured whilst being 'delivered', on hitting the bedding/ground.  If there are any soiled patches on the bedding replace immediately as this will attract all sorts of unsavory animals, rats, filies and other birds. 

Plently of oyster grit and fresh water as suggested.

1. Soft shelled eggs can occur when a chuck is coming into lay.
2. Soft shelled eggs is also a sign of a lack of calcium in the chucks diet.

Supplementary Calcium for a chucks diet.
1. Oyster Shell offered separately.  Make sure you purchase oyster shell not cockle shell. Cockle shell is often sold as oyster. Also make sure it is small enough for a chuck to digest.
2. The used hens shells- Nukes in the microwave and crushed and added to feed.
3. Limestone flour. It can be purchased from your local feed store. It can be added to the chucks food.

Yes and Yes

I give both the egg shell had the added bonus of being free.