Two soft eggs in one day.

[emellsee]

I saw a similar thread, but wanted to share that one of my girls laid TWO soft-shelled eggs today. Both had yolks. I thought she was egg bound this morning, she was really straining and finally an egg with a weak shell came out. She still didn't seem like herself, and I found her in the nesting box where she had laid an egg that encased in membrane and barely any shell (but had her usual dark brown speckles!)

They got treats yesterday (live mealworms, which live in oats and I didn't filter out the oats like I usually do so they ate a lot of oats). Also, this week is the first "hot" week we've had this year, so I'm hoping it's a combination of those things. Two of my younger ones just started laying and since that happened they have all been exhibiting unusual laying behaviors (laying in new spots, etc). I have 3 nesting boxes for 5 layers, but the 3 are joined. Should I try individual nesting boxes in different parts of the stall they live in?

I feed them layer pellets https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/natures-best-organic-egg-layer-pellets-40-lb and free choice oyster shell, but the oyster shell pieces are practically gravel and they don't seem into them. They eat eggshells out of the compost.. so I'm guessing their bodies are craving more calcium. Should I start drying and grinding the eggshells and mixing them into their feed?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

They got treats yesterday (live mealworms, which live in oats and I didn't filter out the oats like I usually do so they ate a lot of oats).

Cut way back on your oats and see that they are eating the nutritionally balanced poultry feed.

I would not add the egg shells to their feed, offer them free choice like you do the oyster shell. Everyone feeds shells differently, I like to "bake" mine. I just pop them in the oven after I've been baking something, let them sit in the oven as it cools down. They don't have to be ground up finely. Just crush them up. The hens will break them up further if they wish.

Anytime you have pullets come into lay, everyone seems to act like a bunch of weirdos. They will settle in time and figure it out.

Stress can affect shell quality, as can diet. So, hopefully this is a just a glitch that will work itself out as well.

 

[ANiceKaren]

I saw a similar thread, but wanted to share that one of my girls laid TWO soft-shelled eggs today. Both had yolks. I thought she was egg bound this morning, she was really straining and finally an egg with a weak shell came out. She still didn't seem like herself, and I found her in the nesting box where she had laid an egg that encased in membrane and barely any shell (but had her usual dark brown speckles!)

They got treats yesterday (live mealworms, which live in oats and I didn't filter out the oats like I usually do so they ate a lot of oats). Also, this week is the first "hot" week we've had this year, so I'm hoping it's a combination of those things. Two of my younger ones just started laying and since that happened they have all been exhibiting unusual laying behaviors (laying in new spots, etc). I have 3 nesting boxes for 5 layers, but the 3 are joined. Should I try individual nesting boxes in different parts of the stall they live in?

I feed them layer pellets https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/natures-best-organic-egg-layer-pellets-40-lb and free choice oyster shell, but the oyster shell pieces are practically gravel and they don't seem into them. They eat eggshells out of the compost.. so I'm guessing their bodies are craving more calcium. Should I start drying and grinding the eggshells and mixing them into their feed?

I just experienced the same thing today! I came home from work to find one of my girls looking very I’ll… I suspected egg bound but truly not sure. She was panting, standing with tail up, wings out, vent pulsing. I gave her a calcium citrate supplement immediately and she laid two full unbroken but soft shelled eggs within 45 minutes! She seems to be feeling much better! Just wanted to share you’re not alone!

 

[aart]

I would not add the egg shells to their feed, offer them free choice like you do the oyster shell.

Ditto Dat!

Mix the crushed egg shell in with the oyster shell.

 

[emellsee]

Cut way back on your oats and see that they are eating the nutritionally balanced poultry feed.

I would not add the egg shells to their feed, offer them free choice like you do the oyster shell. Everyone feeds shells differently, I like to "bake" mine. I just pop them in the oven after I've been baking something, let them sit in the oven as it cools down. They don't have to be ground up finely. Just crush them up. The hens will break them up further if they wish.

Anytime you have pullets come into lay, everyone seems to act like a bunch of weirdos. They will settle in time and figure it out.

Stress can affect shell quality, as can diet. So, hopefully this is a just a glitch that will work itself out as well.

Thank you! It is reassuring to hear that it's normal for them to get weird when pullets start laying, this is my first time going through this transition!

And yes, I normally separate the mealworms from the oats but got lazy. Lesson definitely learned, poor girl!

 

[emellsee]

I just experienced the same thing today! I came home from work to find one of my girls looking very I’ll… I suspected egg bound but truly not sure. She was panting, standing with tail up, wings out, vent pulsing. I gave her a calcium citrate supplement immediately and she laid two full unbroken but soft shelled eggs within 45 minutes! She seems to be feeling much better! Just wanted to share you’re not alone!

Thank goodness they're OK. She reminded me of a woman in labor, she was pacing around and clearly uncomfortable. She didn't lay today so hopefully her schedule is normalizing, glad they're both OK!

 

[Doriss]

I saw a similar thread, but wanted to share that one of my girls laid TWO soft-shelled eggs today. Both had yolks. I thought she was egg bound this morning, she was really straining and finally an egg with a weak shell came out. She still didn't seem like herself, and I found her in the nesting box where she had laid an egg that encased in membrane and barely any shell (but had her usual dark brown speckles!)

They got treats yesterday (live mealworms, which live in oats and I didn't filter out the oats like I usually do so they ate a lot of oats). Also, this week is the first "hot" week we've had this year, so I'm hoping it's a combination of those things. Two of my younger ones just started laying and since that happened they have all been exhibiting unusual laying behaviors (laying in new spots, etc). I have 3 nesting boxes for 5 layers, but the 3 are joined. Should I try individual nesting boxes in different parts of the stall they live in?

I feed them layer pellets https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/natures-best-organic-egg-layer-pellets-40-lb and free choice oyster shell, but the oyster shell pieces are practically gravel and they don't seem into them. They eat eggshells out of the compost.. so I'm guessing their bodies are craving more calcium. Should I start drying and grinding the eggshells and mixing them into their feed?

Yes, I'd definitely crush up cooked eggshells, and maybe offer cuttlefish bone as well. There should be calcium grit available in the stores.