4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Phosphorus]

This one was bigger - 46g (compared to the other 26 and 34g) so it is either a different chook or Roast is getting the idea (on size anyway). Nearly a proper shell, as opposed to just membrane this morning - but could be pushed in in places and interestingly had an external lot of membrane around the outside of the shell and a bit of additional white outside - looked like it was trying to be an egg within an egg but failed to quite make it.

 

Interestingly neither of the soft eggs were laid in the nesting box - Roast was pretty good at going straight there so I do wonder if it is a different hen.

 

Will have to try and catch the culprit tomorrow, although not sure how. They seem to plan their laying around my absence on the school run etc.

[meezers]

I'm guessing that it's a chook who hasn't laid ( properly ) yet. Pepper laid 2 soft shelled eggs,my only chook who has, one in the run and one on the hen house floor, was worried she wouldn't use the nestbox when the time came, but today she went and sat in the nestbox like a good little chook and laid me a perfect first egg. Maybe cos the softies don't 'feel' like eggs' , they don't bother going into the nest box ?

[Suzie]

We've had 2 softies (one a proper softie with hardly any shell and one with a complete shell, just very soft) and neither of them have been laid on the nesting box - both on the roosting bars. All of our other eggs have been in the nesting box. I think it's just that they aren't aware they they are coming.

[Phosphorus]

Thanks that helps to know. Will wait to see what tomorrow brings - haven't had an egg from her today, hoping might get a normal one tomorrow

[ubereglu]

The problem with soft shell eggs is that the hen doesn't have control over them as they can't hold on to them with their muscles properly and so they just fall out.

[Phosphorus]

The problem with soft shell eggs is that the hen doesn't have control over them as they can't hold on to them with their muscles properly and so they just fall out.

 

That makes sense. Also wondering if having one sleeping in the doorway to the nesting box and another in the nesting box itself isn't quite helping her

 

Oh well nothing today, will see what the morning brings Thanks for your help.