Soft rubber eggs

[ellinr]

I found a very soft, rubbery egg in the coop the other day. I had two hens that were laying. After finding the soft egg only one hen seems to be laying and the eggs are very soft. Found one soft egg in the yard that looked like it was eaten. Found another soft, thin shelled egg in the coop today that was broken up. Didn't find the shell in the nest but the nest was messy like the egg had been broken there and moved outside the nest. I'm hoping they are not getting eaten. I recently switched their food from Dumor layer pellets to Purina layer pellets and I'm wondering if they don't like it or it isn't providing the necessary nutrients. I put some oyster shells out for them but that doesn't seem to help. I'm going to switch back to the Dumor but any advice would be helpful.

 

[GitaBooks]

Yes, my chickens do this as well. They know to expect soft shell eggs and eat it the second it it is laid. Try grinding up some egg shell, rinsing it off, and offering that. Keep offering the oyster shell as well.

I hope this helps. Best of luck!

 

[ellinr]

I still have not been getting any eggs and when one is laid is soft shelled and usually broken in the next. None of the other chickens are laying at all. They are getting plenty of layer pellets and fresh water. If they are sick they are not acting sick and they look fine. The weather has cooled off a little so I don't think I can blame that. So I'm not sure what's going on. Husband says if they don't start laying soon they will end up in the pot...not that I could bring myself to eat them

 

[GitaBooks]

Do they have oyster shell available? Could you try grinding up some egg shell for them to eat? Could they perhaps need wormed? Are they molting?

 

[ellinr]

Thanks. I do give them oyster shells and ground up egg shells although they do not seem to be keen on eating them. I'm not seeing an excess of feathers around except for the feathers of one that has never laid to begin with. Does the worming have to be done by a vet?

 

[broomrider]

How old are your chickens? Only four of my eight are laying and I got most of mine the first part of April. RIR's and Barred Rocks don't start laying until 18-20 weeks. Same with the Australorps. The only ones I have laying are my Sex Links and one RIR. My last one that just started laying is also laying rubbery eggs. If you look at the top of this forum there is a sticky thread that says "Common Egg Quality Problems." It says rubbery eggs is the result of immature shell gland found in young pullets. It gives other reasons for it too but I'm thinking this is the cause of mine. Hopefully in a week or two mine will quit laying rubbery eggs. I also have oyster shell out and they don't touch it. Don't put them in the pot yet!

 

[ellinr]

Thanks. One of them is still laying eggs with no shell. Just what looks like an egg yolk. I don't think they are sick but I'm not sure how old one of the gals is. It makes for a messy nest.