Single hen

[cavysqueak]

I know this has probably been asked before - but does anyone know why/how we could have egg white & yolk over the nest, but with no egg shell in sight?

 

We have three girls, two have been laying regularly. Today we got two eggs & a eggy slimy mush. One of the whole eggs looks different to the 'normal' colours which are now regularly laid by the other two hens. Could the third chicken have laid an egg & either she or one of the others have broken one of the already laid eggs? Would the chickens have then eaten the egg shell, leaving just the goo in the nest?

 

We were a bit stumped, but at least the girls have a nice clean nest to lay in tomorrow!

 

Also is there anything I can use in the nest instead of straw? As they seem to push the straw out of the way & we have had a damaged egg already this week.

 

Thanks.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Sounds like it might have been a softy . They are sometimes just yolk and white with no shell but a papery membrane.

 

I use shredded paper in my nestbox with a bit of hemcore to weight it down and absorb anything wet.

[cavysqueak]

Thanks! That sounds logical - I thought a softie would have an outer casing that was just a bit soft - not that it lacks in shell completely!

 

Can hens lay a softie after laying hard shelled eggs, or is it typically just first eggs?

 

Thanks again. This is becoming a whirlwind of new experiences & unheard of information!

[Hen Watch]

Can hens lay a softie after laying hard shelled eggs,

 

Yes. They can lay softies when they are new to laying and getting in the swing of things and this is nothing to worry about. And they can sometimes lay softies at other times later on which could be lack of calcium in feed, worms, poor health, or winding down as getting old etc.

 

My lot will eat the soft shell of a softie and even the egg contents if they can get to it (unless it's fallen through the roosting bars). And they can demolish an softie egg in seconds, so you may find they've eaten the soft shell before you've even realised.