[Gosling]

I have an amber hen who is about 10 month old. For the past 4 months (at least) she has been laying soft eggs.  She has access to water, layers pellets, grit and has occasional treats.  She is regularly powdered against mites etc so I'm now at a complete loss as to what the problem is can anyone offer any suggestions please as the other hens are becoming interested in eating the egg and it is making the coup smell badly.

[sneezer]

Hi there, you say she has grit but does she have access to oyster shell? they need a certain amount of calcium to help with the shell. Also letting them have access to greens such as cabbage, broccoli etc at all times can help with the calcium intake.

[Pretty Chick]

I completely agree with sneezer

[Jeanette]

I give mine oyster shell it is in a small flower pot attached to the mesn of the run, they also have crushed egg shells that are baked a and crushed up small

[Gosling]

Thanks for your responses, yes she does have oyster grit but nothing seems to help.  I've read somewhere it might be an oviduct problem and wondered if anything can be done about that?

[compostqueen]

My girl is two and a half years now and she now lays hardly any eggs at all but if she does they're always softies. She has everything she could possibly need and has recently been wormed with Flubenvet. She seems just fine  and very happy so I've stopped worrying as I don't think there's anything more I can do.  She is a super girly in every way, apart from the lack of eggs 

[joyfull]

She could have a problem absorbing the calcium, does she get enough greens?
If all else fails and she won't eat the oyster shell - you can add the following:-
1)washed, baked and crushed egg shells put in with her feed,
2)poultry spice mixed in with her feed - this is over 20% calcium,
3)a pinch of limestone flour given to just her on a wet treat - such as half a grape of a couple of pieces of sweetcron. Do not give this for more than 2 weeks though.

At all times make sure she has some dark leafy greens - spinach is good as is cabbage.

[Gosling]

Thanks for all of your suggestions.  I'll try the limestone flour and poultry spice and see what happens.  One thing i forgot to mention is her top beak is half the size of her lower one, do you think this may be contributing to the problem?

[compostqueen]

It could be that she doesn't get her share, so try and make sure she gets equal rations. Easier said than done I know