[mowhaugh]

I have got one hen (don't know which one) who is laying eggs with soft shells.  The others are fine, and sometimes, but not always, the soft shell egg seems to be an 'extra' - there are 5 hens in that hen house, and I often get 5 normal eggs plus a soft one.  My hens are totally free range during the day with free access to their hen house, and are shut in the hen house at night.  They have layer's pellets, and a teeny sprinkle of mixed corn, some greens and the odd bit of fruit, and oyster shell grit.  Any advice?  Also, I have just been using the soft shell eggs for baking, scrambling etc., or on occassion when the shell was really none existant so it was just like jelly, giving the whole thing to which ever of the dogs was nearest - is this OK, or should I be discarding them?

[Fleecewife]

Lash eggs are perfectly edible if you can get to them before they pop, and as long as they don't have poop on the skin.
 
Usually it's said that lash eggs occur at the beginning or end of the hens laying life, or season.   It may be that her egg laying system hasn't quite evened itself up if she's young, or is winding down if she's old.   I don't think it's caused by a real problem and whenever any of mine have done this they have soon come right.  Yours have all they need including oyster shell and are free ranging so should be fine.
Someone more knowledgeable might come along and contradict all this of course 

[ellied]

I have had an odd few of those intermittently and from what I recall I was told it was likely one of the ex-commercial hens I have, tho mine were "free range" insofar as the commercial side goes, and are completely free range here now.  I can't remember if it was the previous management in commercial early life or a sign of her coming to the end of a particularly early laying shelf life, but there are a few not laying much now they're over 3 so she may be one of them..

Can't remember if you have ex-commercials or those breed types, if so it could be one of those 

[Louise Gaunt]

I have both ex commercial hens and some bought as point if lay. Each type occasionally lay a soft shell egg and don't seem to come to any harm from it. They tend to look a bit off colour for a few hours prior to producing a soft shelled egg but pick up once it is produced. I never get them to use, the hens usually spot them and eat them!

[mowhaugh]

Thank you, hens all look very healthy, so I'll stop worrying.  Made one into yorkshire pud tonight, was yum.

[Fleecewife]

There's something revolting about holding them in your hand