kilravock Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 Hi. We've had our trio of chicks for just over a week now, in an Eglu and run (free ranging most of the day). To my amazement one laid an egg the day before yesterday. It was a "softie" which ended up in the litter tray The same thing happened today. Apart from the soft shells the eggs look very good with nice yellow yolks. Is she just getting ready for the main event, or is this something to worry about? They all have good varied feed including extra grit by way of oyster shell - pellets, corn, greens, mealworms etc & the bugs and goodies in the garden. Btw I'd also be interested to hear what others use by way of bedding for the nest box. I'm using shredded paper. I wondered if it might be too sharp, though the droppings in the box indicates someone's been sitting there a lot! I've heard that putting a golf ball in the box might encourage the laying hen to go there rather than sit on the roosting bars? Thanks! I've been bitten (pecked?) by the hen bug and just want to boil my first egg! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 Well done for getting the chickens, they make fab pets I guess it takes a chicken a while to get the hang laying so the golf ball sounds a good idea, lots of people use shredded paper as a nestbox bedding with no problems, I use Aubiose which is fantastic, I changed to wood shavings for a while and they were also very good (and smelt lovely) I am not sure about the softie eggs, if it was me I would wait to see if everything settles down before I was very worried Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 They can lay softies at first when they are young and getting into the swing of things. I wouldn't worry too much. And as for laying the softies on the roosting bars...... my lot do this even after 2 years. Either they know it's a softie and they don't go in the nest box, or, it's so quick it catches them unawares.....don't really know. But they all manage to lay proper eggs in the nest box. Shredded paper is OK in the nestbox. I personally don't use it as I have one hen who likes the taste of it and eats it all, so I use Auboise (horse bedding, or Hemcore is similar stuff). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 Congratulations on chickens and eggs even if softies. If you put softies in search there are several threads or look in the frequently asked questions section. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kilravock Posted March 16, 2009 Author Share Posted March 16, 2009 Thanks for the help and advice. I think you are right in saying they're ejecting the softie so quickly they don't even know it. I saw one hen doing this yesterday - a double yolk with virtually no shell and she didn't even stop grazing! I am sure they will soon start laying with firm shells. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
