Heidi-Hi Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 Hi all, Could someone please try and shed some light on my question? Out of my 9 regular girls (just got 2 new ones, so they don't count ) one seems to lay soft shell eggs. Very thin shells that don't always survive till I get there to safe it. They are obviously all on the same diet - Garvo layers pellets, extra grit etc. She is a Barnevelder and not a very regular egg girl, if you know what I mean... Perhaps it is just the way the Good Lord made her? Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 interesting, I dont know! was about to post something on the same lines - 8 girls, recently flub-ed via marriages pellets so worms shouldnt be an issue. FR all day everyday from 7.30amish til dusk; grit available; no mites or nasties. but I am still getting the odd softie - not daily, but maybe 1-2 a week, and I dont know who is laying them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 I have three ex-batts and get a softy most days. I don't know who the culprit is, or even whether they take turns to lay a softy. I have tried worming, more grit, limestone flour and cod live oil, lifeguard, crushed egg shell etc etc, but nothing seems to make any difference. However, the girls are all apparently well and happy so I am content to accept that softies are a fact of life and there's nothing else I can do. Like you, I would love to know the reason for this, but I think it's just one of those things? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 I have one that lays eggs with either a fragile shell, a k"Ooops, word censored!"bly shell or a soft shell. I have experimented with her with regards to calcium and I don't think it makes any positive difference. She was fine until had to be treated for a sore leg, she was previously our best layer. The fact that all of my others are laying normally makes me confident that it isn't dietary. With my hen, it seems to be a blip in her system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 I also have a hen who lays very thin shelled eggs every day. The others all lay eggs with good, hard shells so like CM, I am certain it's not dietary. I read in a recent BHWT newsletter that regular thin shelled eggs are caused by the egg whizzing too fast through the system and therefore moving too fast through the shell gland. I can understand this could be the case with my Rosie as her eggs are usually torpedo shaped! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi-Hi Posted May 4, 2011 Author Share Posted May 4, 2011 Well, I have decided not to worry about it... I still love her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doncat5 Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Interesting to read I'm not the only one eggsperiencing this (sorry about the ban joke!). I have 4 rescued, ex barn layers, had them for about 6 months, all laid fine then suddenly one started laying paper thin shells, which would get crushed and quickly eaten. I wormed them and found a lot of worms in their poo, so thinking this was the cause, I rewormed them after, I think it was 3 weeks... this was about 2 months ago and I'm still getting at least one crushed, eaten egg a day, occasionally 2... the other 2 eggs have thick hard shells so I also dont think this is dietry. The odd thing is, the one who lays the thin shells, lays every day without fail... she's also the thinest hen, the smallest, the scraggliest and the only one to molt soon after rescuing her, apart from the thin shells she seems otherwise fine. I have tried every supplement going, powders, liquids, lotions and potions, I treat for worms and red mite, and my feed shed looks like a shop that doesnt have any cusomers... but I think its time to give up spending a small fortune on non working remedies, and just accept that I get 2 eggs a day (if I'm lucky) but have given 4 hens the chance of a happy retirement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 I'm in a similar situation. Glad (?) it is common. I have 10 layers and they all get fed the same but one lays either soft shelled eggs or very fragile shelled eggs, so invariably the others get to have egg for breakfast before I can get it. She seems healthy so I just put it down to one of those things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi-Hi Posted June 30, 2011 Author Share Posted June 30, 2011 and my feed shed looks like a shop that doesnt have any cusomers... Sounds familier... Sorry, but has just really made me smile - no actually laugh out loadly!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
