The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: gillandtom on March 09, 2009, 07:45:45 pm

Title: Eggs with no shells?
Post by: gillandtom on March 09, 2009, 07:45:45 pm

One of our hens has been laying eggs over the last couple of days that have no hard shells only a thin membrane holding it together.  Anyone have any ideas about this and how we can rectify the problem?

 :-\

Thanks Gillian

Title: Re: Eggs with no shells?
Post by: jameslindsay on March 09, 2009, 08:14:02 pm

Is it a young hen? One of my ducks used to have that problem but it was the first time for her laying so I put it down to her being very young. I did introduce some "grit" into her food and the problem stopped. I do believe it was her age though.

Title: Re: Eggs with no shells?
Post by: pigsatlesrues on March 09, 2009, 08:26:18 pm

Try this website:   http://wiki.omlet.co.uk/index.php/Soft_Shelled_Eggs    - it should answer your questions.  It often happens to young hens, and the problem quickly rectifies itself.

Kate  :chook:

Title: Re: Eggs with no shells?
Post by: Rosemary on March 09, 2009, 08:27:02 pm

Sometimes hens do this when they start laying. It should pass. Oystershell grit won't do any harm.

Title: Re: Eggs with no shells?
Post by: gillandtom on March 09, 2009, 08:35:29 pm

Thanks everyone.  She is about 25-28 weeks and has been laying 'normal' eggs every day for about a month now.  One double yolker last week then 3 soft shells in the last week.  She is free range and has pellets and oyster shell as well as scraps.  Hopefully it will pass.

Thanks
Gillian
x

Title: Re: Eggs with no shells?
Post by: northfifeduckling on March 11, 2009, 09:29:25 am

If it happens to one of our ducks occasionally I give them extra oystershell grit and next day it's fine. :&>

Title: Re: Eggs with no shells?
Post by: carl on March 11, 2009, 09:48:37 am

I get them sometimes , when pullets are starting to lay. it always makes me jump when I pick up the egg and it is squishy and soft, not firm and smooth like a normal egg. I've never used them for eating, not sure what to do with them, so usually feed them to the cat.