Topic: soft eggs

[sid]

hi i had my first eggs today but the shell was soft it is the first time the hens have lade ther only around 12 weeks old do i have to give them any oyster shell or is it normal on the first lay

[kt.]

It is normal for the shell to be soft to begin with. Once they get past 16-17 weeks old, you can buy bags of GRIT specifically for hens to help harden the shell. I mix my hen food with about 55-60% layers pellets, 30% maize & corn mix, and 10-15% grit. This works well for me.

[teresa]

It can take a few days to get the laying right, but they will get it right in the end. I just leave a bowl of grit in the runs. This way they help themselves not only to help with egg shells but digestion.

[OliveOil]

Yep young hens and older hens are prone to soft shells - nothign to worry about!

[Marymary]

Agree it's fairly normal in young hens & 12 weeks is young to be laying.  I gave mine oyster shell but they wouldn't touch it so I now feed them a corn mix which has grit in it & have never had a soft shell though have had thin shells sometimes.

[sid]

hard eggs the next day now had two eggs a day  ;D