Sireewiree Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 Thrilled to be new chicken person! Hens bought POL and are coming along nicely. Bovans laid 1st egg on Saturday, but was very soft and fell through roosting bars. She laid a perfect egg in the nest box area on Monday and today I have another soft egg, just like before. Their diet is fine, lots of pellets and grit and limited treats. Am I right in saying that this is entirely normal for new layers? As long as I maintain a good diet for them, will things just work out? Have chicken book on way so will stop asking silly questions!!! Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostock422 Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 For a new layer the shells aren't normally soft, was it just the one egg which was soft? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sireewiree Posted May 27, 2011 Author Share Posted May 27, 2011 She's laid 2 soft eggs now and 1 perfect one. Seems otherwise ok and tucking into layers pellets. Not giving treats just in case. First egg was last Saturday, ans was soft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teacake Posted May 27, 2011 Share Posted May 27, 2011 do they need more calcium, I've been baking eggshells and adding them to their pellets, or you could try oyster shell or a calcium supplement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sireewiree Posted May 27, 2011 Author Share Posted May 27, 2011 Another soft egg today. Have stopped treats altogether and sprinkled extra oyster shell in their run. She's been eating lots of pellets this morning so will keep fingers crossed. The legbar is laying eggs daily and they're like bullets!!! The bovans (soft eggs) has laid the 3 soft eggs in the roosting bar area, while her solid one was in the nest. Just coincidence perhaps, but seems strange. I'm sure these chickens are getting more attention than my children at the moment! Really appreciate help! Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teacake Posted May 27, 2011 Share Posted May 27, 2011 what colour are your leggbar eggs? do we get to see photos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sireewiree Posted May 27, 2011 Author Share Posted May 27, 2011 Am such a thickie. I meant leghorn and she lays lovely pure White eggs. Aiming for legbar with blue eggs next!!! Will post photos when I work out how to!!!! Any experience of legbars? Good team players? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pearls007 Posted May 28, 2011 Share Posted May 28, 2011 When our two first arrived they both laid soft eggs from time to time, one far more than the other - never in the nest box though. One day we would have a softie and the next a normal hard (very hard) shell. I can now tell when they are going to lay a soft egg by the way they behave. But of course at first I was really worried. Young chickens will lay soft eggs - and it is not necessarily because they need any supplements - in the same way that young chickens are more likely to lay double yolked eggs - the egg laying kit just needs to settle down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sireewiree Posted May 28, 2011 Author Share Posted May 28, 2011 When our two first arrived they both laid soft eggs from time to time, one far more than the other - never in the nest box though. One day we would have a softie and the next a normal hard (very hard) shell. I can now tell when they are going to lay a soft egg by the way they behave. But of course at first I was really worried. Young chickens will lay soft eggs - and it is not necessarily because they need any supplements - in the same way that young chickens are more likely to lay double yolked eggs - the egg laying kit just needs to settle down! Thanks for that. Always reassuring to know people have had similar experiences. No eggs at all today(!) so expecting super eggs tomorrow. Fingers crossed! Will let you know. Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
