Soft shelled eggs

[61L35]

Hello! My chickens have recently started to lay soft shelled eggs for some reason. I have them on layer feed as of currently. They a free ranged but I have a little container in which they can eat oyster shells that I provided them with. It’s kinda weird because some of them lay soft and the next day it’s a hard shell. Or sometimes just the tip of the shell is soft. I honestly don’t know what to do and was wondering if I could give them human calcium supplements like 600 mg with vitamin d?

 

[StinkyAcres]

Do they get any extra treats other than what they forage for while free ranging? Are any showing any signs of respiratory infection or swelling of their joints?

If you know who is laying the soft-shelled eggs you can give them a Calcium Citrate+D3 tablet daily for a few days, but you don't want to overdo it.

 

[61L35]

I sometimes give them some fruit and some meal worms but that’s pretty much it. All the chickens seem healthy and I’m not sure what they really forage around for. But can I give them calcium tablets that I have or do I have to go buy the ones you recommended?

 

[StinkyAcres]

But can I give them calcium tablets that I have or do I have to go buy the ones you recommended?

I'm not sure. @Eggcessive might know if that is okay to use or not.

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes you can give them human calcium with d tablets orally, 300-600 mg is the usual dosage once a day for up to 7 days. They could have salpingitis (inflammation of the oviduct,) or something going on with the shell gland in the oviduct. If it continues, you could check in to hormone implants, to stop them laying for up to 6 months, but they can be expensive and a vet who gives them may be hard to find.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Is it one bird or multiple birds laying problematic eggs? You can use the tablets you have, provided you know which bird(s) needs supplementing.

How old are the birds? Do you see evidence of them eating the provided oyster shell?

 

[61L35]

Is it one bird or multiple birds laying problematic eggs? You can use the tablets you have, provided you know which bird(s) needs supplementing.

How old are the birds? Do you see evidence of them eating the provided oyster shell?

It’s I think 3 of them that have that problem but one hen is the main one that has a hard time laying a hard shell egg. They are about 1 year old now and I don’t think I’ve ever seen them eat it too.

 

[rosemarythyme]

It’s I think 3 of them that have that problem but one hen is the main one that has a hard time laying a hard shell egg. They are about 1 year old now and I don’t think I’ve ever seen them eat it too.

So one thing to try is mix in crushed eggshell (which might be a little tricky right now when you already have shell issues) with the oyster shell. Chickens may prefer eggshell and it might encourage them to visit the oyster container more often. I save my eggshells in a oven safe tray and pop it in to bake during preheat, makes them easy to crush up.

If you're certain that one hen in particular has issues, yes I'd do calcium tablets for a week or two to try and boost the calcium in her system to get her to lay regular shelled eggs.

 

[61L35]

So one thing to try is mix in crushed eggshell (which might be a little tricky right now when you already have shell issues) with the oyster shell. Chickens may prefer eggshell and it might encourage them to visit the oyster container more often. I save my eggshells in a oven safe tray and pop it in to bake during preheat, makes them easy to crush up.

If you're certain that one hen in particular has issues, yes I'd do calcium tablets for a week or two to try and boost the calcium in her system to get her to lay regular shelled eggs.

Oh okay sounds good! Thank you!

 

[Perris]

It’s kinda weird because some of them lay soft and the next day it’s a hard shell. Or sometimes just the tip of the shell is soft.

do they look like these on the right?

If so, those laying the defective eggs are suffering from mycoplasma synoviae. They can still be eaten, and the hens will develop immunity in time. (It's got zero to do with their diet.) Source of the photo and where you can read more about it: https://www.nadis.org.uk/disease-a-z/poultry/diseases-of-farmyard-poultry/part-1-mycoplasmosis/