Hi, I have gone to the hen house and found a paper thin mess in the laying box on 5 occassions now. It is only one hen and she started out this way. She is 6 months old and I don't know if she only lays soft eggs, I only find the gross ones. What do you think this is. All my hens are free ranged and fed comerical brand layer mix. I didn't think I had to have oysters shells if they are free ranged. I am concerned that this is a disease and I will have to cull her to prevent spread to my other girls. Help!!!! Karole

-- Karole (Biz3boymom@aol.com), April 26, 2000

Answers

Karole: I also have one of my hens that lays thinner shelled eggs, but I haven't been able to pin down which one it is. Guess I could if I penned them all separately, etc., but don't have time for that. I don't think it is a disease, your hen is young, and if you give them oyster shell, or save all your egg shells, let them dry a couple days, and grind them really well so they aren't in large pieces, and mix that with their feed, that will give them some calcium, too. It should get better with time. If there aren't any signs of disease, I wouldn't worry yet. How long has she been laying? Usually they start at 5 or 6 months, at least mine did. Jan

-- Jan B (Janice12@aol.com), April 26, 2000.

I agree with Jan. I'd give them oyster shell free choice, make sure they're getting plenty of sunlight (vitamin D development) and see that they're eating some greens (the darker green the better) and she should shape up. It's not unusual for a young hen to lay soft shelled eggs. In a month or so they should harden up just fine if all the nutritional needs are being met.

...........Alan.

The Prudent Food Storage FAQ, v3.5

http://www.ProvidenceCo-op.com

-- A.T. Hagan (athagan@netscape.net), April 26, 2000.

Karole, the above answers are good, the only thing I'd add is that if you're sure it is only the one hen, she might be at the bottom of the pecking order. There might not be a full diet available to her while free ranging since it is early yet for many of us, and the other hens might not be letting her into the commercial feed. She might also have a beak deformity that is making it difficult for her to eat. Assuming that is not the case, it will probably go away with time. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), April 26, 2000.

I have never had this happen except on rather rare occasion, and have never been able to identify one bird as the producer. I free range, and only supplement with oyster shell in the spring when the eggs are so plentiful. The soft shells have always occurred when there were pullets just starting to lay. If you know which hen it is, I suggest bringing a can of chicken noodle soup (visual aid) to the barn and explaining the ramifications of sloppy egg production. GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@mix-net.net), April 26, 2000.

Brad, that's mean! She's trying. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), April 26, 2000.

would that be regular chicken soup, or the chunky chicken noodle soup? campbells or el cheapo store brand? inquiring minds wanna know

-- gene ward (gward34847@aol.com), April 27, 2000.