[Carol A]

Please help..... being new to this business we've recently bought 3 Black Rocks (approx 16 weeks) and 3 Lowman Browns(18-21 weeks). We've had 3 eggs up to present, the first being a double yolker and the other 2 normal 1 yolk eggs. The problem we have is that we keep finding soft eggs(no shell) in the coup which have been laid during the night. Other than putting the grit in the food we cannot seem to find a solution. Please help as any advice will be gratefully received.

[Roxy]

These pullets are only just starting laying, so you do get blips in the production line, as you are finding, i.e. no shells, big eggs, small eggs, funny shelled eggs.  I have the ex batteries who have the same problem, lack of calcium.  Adding a couple of spoonfuls of limestone flour to their feed does help (you will find it in horse feed shops or agricultural supplies).  Not expensive and it does the job.

[MiriMaran]

That sounds like a much cheaper alternative to what I do which is give them grated cheese (probably illegal)!  Some people also save the egg shell slow bake it for a bit and then crush it into the hens food - you are then replacing the calcium they have lost - I've never tried this though.  Don't worry your hens will sort themselves out!

[Hilarysmum]

Crushed oyster shell may do the trick.