Is this normal for a new layer?

[aart]

Did you ever find the second half of the shell?
I'd be concerned it was still inside her.

 

[NatJ]

Softshell eggs just do happen sometimes.

As long as the hens have access to free-choice oyster shell, along with appropriate food and water, I do not worry about one or two soft eggs. They just seem to happen on occasion, and things usually go back to normal without me doing anything.

If the hen is acting fine, I personally would wait a few days and see how things go. But I don't see any harm in giving extra calcium right away, as some other posters have suggested, if that makes you feel more comfortable.

Edit to add: I just re-read the title. Short answer: yes, this is somewhat normal for a new layer.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Red was standing kind of still I asked her if she was ok and she turned around and laid an egg except I watched the whole thing and she spit out a soft egg but with no top so I literally watched the yolk and egg pour on the ground followed by 1/2 soft shell

Can you clarify....did she lay an egg, then the soft shell egg came out too - OR was the soft shelled "egg" the only thing that came out.


Rolled edges, I bet the "top" is rolled/collapsed inside the "bottom"

Would be nice to see what the "inside" looked like.

 

[Chickendaddy33]

I can take a pic of the inside but it’s not rolled the top is just not there. When she spit it out I watched the yolk come out cupped in the bottom of the soft shell and it spilled on the ground. The top of the egg is smooth perfectly Symmetrical like no top developed. It was the only egg she laid yesterday and it was suppose to be her “off day” the bottom part of the egg was crunchy but softer than a regular full crunch egg. If that makes any sense.

 

[Chickendaddy33]

Softshell eggs just do happen sometimes.

As long as the hens have access to free-choice oyster shell, along with appropriate food and water, I do not worry about one or two soft eggs. They just seem to happen on occasion, and things usually go back to normal without me doing anything.

If the hen is acting fine, I personally would wait a few days and see how things go. But I don't see any harm in giving extra calcium right away, as some other posters have suggested, if that makes you feel more comfortable.

Edit to add: I just re-read the title. Short answer: yes, this is somewhat normal for a new layer.

Thank you!

 

[aart]

like no top developed.

Not likely, that's not how shells are formed.
More likely it broke on the way out of the uterus or vagina.

So I will repeat......

Did you ever find the second half of the shell?
I'd be concerned it was still inside her.

This excellent video might explain what I mean, which is worth watching regardless: