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

[Chrissi]

I got my first chickens (a Miss Pepperpot and a Ginger Nut Ranger) about a month ago. The Miss Pepperpot (I think) laid her first small egg on Tuesday (Hurrah!). She then laid another on Wednesday so I thought all was going well.

 

On Thursday, the egg was cracked against the rafters, not in the nesting tray. Friday and Saturday saw no eggs and then today there was a larger soft egg, again on the rafters (it had fallen through due to being so soft).

 

Is this normal? Should I expect things to settle down soon?

 

Also, my chickens seem to kick their straw/shredded paper out of the nesting tray quite a lot. Is this normal? Is there anything I can do about it?

[Couperman]

Yes soft shelled eggs are normal when they first start laying.

 

Once they get the hang of it you will probably get a load of double yolkers too! before normality ensues.

 

Ours don't like anything in the nesting bos either, whatever we put in there is removed, weird

 

Kev.

[Janty]

You could try using some limestone flour in with their feed to harden up the shells. However, as said previously this is quite normal. My cochin still lays the odd soft shelled egg every now and again and she has been laying since November and she gets limestone flour every day.

[TAJ]

yes I got a few shell less & soft shells in the first few weeks - each 'normal' egg was in the nesting box and all the problem eggs were on the bars, or had gone through to the poo tray.

 

I wouldn't worry too soon as they take a few weeks to settle down - it is one in particular of mine that has taken time to sort it out - the other two seem to get it from the start.

 

Tracy

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Welcome to the forum, Chrissi . Anything seems to go as regards chicken laying habits . You could try the limestone flour to see if it makes a difference (I presume you give them mixed poultry grit already?)

 

Mine kick stuff out of the nestbox too - I think they just wriggle about trying to make it comfy and it all falls out.