andymospit Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 Hi, i,ve 2 hens had them 5 weeks now. My miss pepperpot laid her first egg on sunday it was soft shelled. No egg yesterday, came home from work today and found another soft shelled egg in the laying area and another in the run. As the gingernut ranger has only just started to grow her comb and wattles i'm sure it can't be her laying. I posted a topic about the first egg on sunday, reasuring replys came back, but now 3 soft eggs am I worrying unnecessarily ? I feed them on organic layers pellets and they have extra grit in a bowl. I give them some mixed corn last thing at night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEB Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 My ranger laid three softies at the start, but has had no problems since. She's given us a lovely egg every day for the past two weeks now with no problem, so I assume it was just cos she was starting out. I don't think you need to worry yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 when a hen first starts laying there are usually some practice eggs/small eggs/mis shaped eggs and "softies". Sounds like you are doing everything right so I wouldnt worry too much. Hopefully they will both be full swing laying for you soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 Check there's some oyster shell mixed in with the grit, some bags of grit come with it already mixed in - others dont. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 Hi there, My Coral laid quite a few softies when she was getting in the swing of things. I started routinely putting limestone flour in their mash and either this or her increasing maturity sorted it out after a couple of weeks. I see that you are feeding organic mash - I was advised by my local poultry centre not to feed young hens on this until they'd been laying for a couple of months as they are at risk of prolapse on the organic mash if their laying tackle hasn't been fully 'stretched' first. Don't mean to worry you but it's worth getting further advice on the organic side of things. Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andymospit Posted March 18, 2008 Author Share Posted March 18, 2008 Hi there, My Coral laid quite a few softies when she was getting in the swing of things. I started routinely putting limestone flour in their mash and either this or her increasing maturity sorted it out after a couple of weeks. I see that you are feeding organic mash - I was advised by my local poultry centre not to feed young hens on this until they'd been laying for a couple of months as they are at risk of prolapse on the organic mash if their laying tackle hasn't been fully 'stretched' first. Don't mean to worry you but it's worth getting further advice on the organic side of things. Jo Hi there, the organic pellets came from omlet with the hens so I presume they would be ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 I'm not sure why organic feed would make any difference to the laying, as opposed to non-organic? I've always fed mine on it, and they have been fine. It's probably just a bit of egg-laying practice, but the limestone flour is worth getting, the shells are like rock now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 My ginger laid a softie for her first egg and then nothing for nearly 2 weeks..but i gave her crushed up eggshells ( if you bake them first they are easier to crush finely) in her food for a couple of days to give her extra calcium and now she lays big beauties every day - don't worry, it's worth the wait! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckmomma Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Hi Since giving my duck the organic layers pellets from omlet I am getting fewer eggs, and have had a number of softies. Wondering now if it is the feed . Think I will try Allen and page in future(which for some reason was what I thought I was getting from omlet. :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...