Backyard Fowl Keepers

I have a mixed flock of Easter Eggers, Red Stars, and one Red Cochin Bantam (who I've never seen lay an egg). They were all hatched in May and started laying around November to December. Recently, I've encountered a problem three times with messes in the nesting box, including an egg today that had no shell, just yolk and whites.

I feed them Purina Layer Crumbles with the Oyster Strong system logo, but I'm wondering if this could be due to a lack of oyster shell or if it's just because they are still young. Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

It's likely just growing pains. Young layers often have occasional soft-shell or shell-less eggs as they start laying. Make sure they have access to grit and oyster shell to support their calcium needs.

I'd recommend monitoring their diet closely. While Purina Layer Crumbles should offer good nutrition, sometimes a little extra calcium, like oyster shell, could help prevent soft-shell or shell-less eggs.

I had the same issue with my flock when they were starting out. It seems to be more common in young layers. Keep an eye on them, and you may see improvement as they mature.

It could be a mix of both. Sometimes young hens take a bit of time to fully adjust to laying and may produce soft-shelled eggs. The Purina feed should be fine, but offering extra oyster shell on the side can help.

It sounds like a calcium deficiency. Even with Purina Layer Crumbles, adding oyster shell can help your hens' bodies build stronger eggs. Consider providing it in a separate dish so they can help themselves.