3.6m Omlet Chicken Run for sale, Brand New in Boxes, Milton Keynes (MK19)

[jc123]

When I went to collect the eggs today, the nest box was still occupied but I could see 1 egg and some runny egg white stuff near it. I thought it must have been broken, but when I went back later it was intact. There was 1 other normal egg, and then this small amount of clear stuf with some dried yellow in it. We have 3 hybrids and usually get 3 eggs a day with the occasional day just getting 2.

Hens seem fine although I am redmite busting again at the moment.

They mostly free range in our suburban garden. They have grit although don't seem to bother with it. Layers in feeder all day, then corn/leftovers in afternoon.

Should I be worried? Still quite new to all this!

Thanks for any advice.

[Olly]

Shell-less, or 'soft' eggs are quite normal, especially in young hens just coming into lay. Are your hens point-of-lay? If they are, then I wouldn't worry, it probably just means the egg has gone through their system too fast for the shell to develop. (That's not very technical, but you get the idea!)

[jc123]

Thanks for reply.

They were point of lay when we got them in August, and we had the odd softie then, but since the eggs have just been getting bigger and better until this one.

Also yesterday 1 of the hens wouldn't get out of the nest box and we were an egg short. I did get her out at lunchtime and she seemed perfectly happy pecking about but did go back into the chcken house for a bit. Later on she was out with the others as usual. Is this broody behaviour?