[viettaclark]

It's me again!
Phyllis started laying about 10 days ago. Her timings have been very erratic and her eggs are usually soft and pale although I've had 2 small and 1 large double-yolker that were hard and well coloured. She was laying in the evening (soft) then mid-morning (hard) now very early am. (soft again) Of course, when I go to poo pick the egg has been squashed in the rush to get out. Real shame because it would be perfectly edible. I'm surprised they don't eat it....when Bluebell laid a soft one in the run they really went for it! Anyway, there's oyster grit and layers always available although I don't know exactly how much she eats. Is this just her getting in the groove and should it settle ?
Please impart your wisdom o learned ones!  

[compostqueen]

I'm sure they'll settle down but always have Ostrea oyster shell available for them 

[Roughlee Handled]

It is quiet normal for them to lay a few softies when they first start laying.  If it carries on a few weeks try adding some limestone flour to the food. They may have oyster shell available but they may not eat it.

[viettaclark]

I occasionally bung in snails and she munches them up, shell and all. Gave 'em some today and I'm going to see if there's a correlation between snail shells and hard eggs. Only thing is I heard somewhere snails can infect with worms?

[Roughlee Handled]

........... Only thing is I heard somewhere snails can infect with worms?

But you should be worming your chickens with Flubenvet so that is ok.

[viettaclark]

They were wormed 6 weeks ago. I haven't noticed any at all....do I just do it when I see them?

[SnooziSuzi]

If it carries on a few weeks try adding some limestone flour to the food. They may have oyster shell available but they may not eat it.

mine never do eat the crushed oyster shell - I'm wondering if it's because the pieces are too large maybe?

where would one get limestone flour from then?

[Roughlee Handled]

They were wormed 6 weeks ago. I haven't noticed any at all....do I just do it when I see them?

I worm every 6 months. But always read the label.

..........where would one get limestone flour from then?

From your local feed merchant or pet shop well that is where mine comes from.

[viettaclark]

Hmmm! Phyllis laid her egg much later and although the shell was thin, it was hard. There was a small hole in the top end where the shell had been pressed in. Anyway it tasted fine. Now...is there a connection between her eating snails yeaterday and a harder egg today, or is it because she laid later which gave the egg more time to form? Hmmmm! Will we ever know....?

[Roughlee Handled]

A snails shell contains Calcium
A egg shell contains Calcium
.........................

[viettaclark]

  I know that me ol' mate. So maybe she ain't eating her oyster shell like a good chicken. Will see tomorrow....no snails today....

[Roughlee Handled]

Try the old limstone flower.

[viettaclark]

Thanks muchly o wise and wondrous one!!! Where would I be without this forum......!!! 

[Foxy]

Try the old limstone flower.

whats a limestone flower? and when is the best time to plant it?

[solairesgrandad]

I had this problem. I'm not really sure how it seems to have cured itself 'cos I haven't really changed anything that much.
We've had our 2 ladies for 2 weeks now. We were told thay were 17 weeks old so we weren't really expecting eggs just yet but after only 3 days our first egg appeared from Stashoo. After that she didn't lay another egg for 2 days but she's been laying 1 a day ever since. There's a good girl. The other lady, Attilla, laid her first one a week after Stashoo's 1st. Like yours it was soft. She looked dishevelled and a bit shocked at laying her 1st egg. We then found out all we needed to know from peoples on this forum. We made sure that she had more grit available and when she's let out into the allotment she scratches about for all the creepy nasties that I've been trying to get rid of for ages. She loves slugs but she doesn't seem to interested in snails. She then didn't lay for another 2 days but this time it's a proper egg. Still pullet sized but they'll get bigger as the girls get bigger. So my advice is to take on board some of the advice from this forum and you won't go far wrong.

As for the Limestone Flower, isn't it a bit too hard for their teeth, especially when they're young.

Cheers everyone and thanks for the advice.
Sid