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Sudden Egg Issues Soft Shells, Color Change, and a Week-Long Pause
Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2025 3:14 pm
by TammyTalon
Hi everyone,
I have a 1.5-year-old Olive Egger who has always been a reliable layer, giving me large green eggs in the nesting boxuntil last week. Suddenly, I found two of her eggs under the roosting bar with extremely soft shells. After that, she stopped laying completely for a full week. Then, yesterday, she laid a leathery white egg directly on the ground in the run.
Her behavior seems completely normalshe's active, eating and drinking well, and socializing as usual. Her vent looks fine, and I haven't noticed any signs of illness or distress. She is at the bottom of the pecking order but has never been bullied excessively. There haven't been any predator scares that I know of.
I provide free-choice oyster shells, and my other two hens are laying normally with no issues. They all eat the same feed, so Im confused about what could be going on. Could this be stress-related? A nutritional issue? Something more serious? Id love to hear any insights or experiences you might have!
Re: Sudden Egg Issues Soft Shells, Color Change, and a Week-Long Pause
Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2025 1:26 am
by FeatheredTrailblazer
It's strange that the egg color changed,could she have been stressed by something like a scare at night? A predator lurking near the coop, even if it doesn't attack, could disrupt laying patterns. Maybe try extra security measures just in case.
Re: Sudden Egg Issues Soft Shells, Color Change, and a Week-Long Pause
Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2025 3:39 am
by EggCelestial
TammyTalon wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 3:14 pm
Hi everyone,
I have a 1.5-year-old Olive Egger who has always been a reliable layer, giving me large green eggs in the nesting boxuntil last week. Suddenly, I found two of her eggs under the roosting bar with extremely soft shells. After that, she stopped laying completely for a full week. Then, yesterday, she laid a leathery white egg directly on the ground in the run.
Her behavior seems completely normalshe's active, eating and drinking well, and socializing as usual. Her vent looks fine, and I haven't noticed any signs of illness or distress. She is at the bottom of the pecking order but has never been bullied excessively. There haven't been any predator scares that I know of.
I provide free-choice oyster shells, and my other two hens are laying normally with no issues. They all eat the same feed, so Im confused about what could be going on. Could this be stress-related? A nutritional issue? Something more serious? Id love to hear any insights or experiences you might have!
Some hens go through weird laying phases, especially during seasonal changes or hormonal shifts. If her next egg is normal, it was probably just a fluke. If not, you might need to dig deeper into diet or health concerns.
Re: Sudden Egg Issues Soft Shells, Color Change, and a Week-Long Pause
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2025 6:46 pm
by GreenThumbed
If she's acting fine otherwise, I'd lean toward a diet tweak or a minor stress event. Make sure she's getting enough sunlight, as vitamin D helps with calcium absorption. Maybe offer some high-calcium greens like kale or spinach, too.
Re: Sudden Egg Issues Soft Shells, Color Change, and a Week-Long Pause
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2025 1:01 am
by HappyHens
TammyTalon wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 3:14 pm
Hi everyone,
I have a 1.5-year-old Olive Egger who has always been a reliable layer, giving me large green eggs in the nesting boxuntil last week. Suddenly, I found two of her eggs under the roosting bar with extremely soft shells. After that, she stopped laying completely for a full week. Then, yesterday, she laid a leathery white egg directly on the ground in the run.
Her behavior seems completely normalshe's active, eating and drinking well, and socializing as usual. Her vent looks fine, and I haven't noticed any signs of illness or distress. She is at the bottom of the pecking order but has never been bullied excessively. There haven't been any predator scares that I know of.
I provide free-choice oyster shells, and my other two hens are laying normally with no issues. They all eat the same feed, so Im confused about what could be going on. Could this be stress-related? A nutritional issue? Something more serious? Id love to hear any insights or experiences you might have!
A sudden change like this could be linked to molting, hormone shifts, or even a hidden stressor. Since she's still eating and active, I wouldn't panic just yet. Maybe give her some extra protein and see if things improve.
Re: Sudden Egg Issues Soft Shells, Color Change, and a Week-Long Pause
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2025 10:01 am
by BeckyBroody
Soft-shelled and missing eggs can sometimes be a sign of a temporary calcium imbalance. Since she has access to oyster shells, try mixing some into her feed or offering crushed eggshells for extra support. Keep an eye on her in case it's something more serious.
Re: Sudden Egg Issues Soft Shells, Color Change, and a Week-Long Pause
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2025 6:19 pm
by AmberAviary
TammyTalon wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 3:14 pm
Hi everyone,
I have a 1.5-year-old Olive Egger who has always been a reliable layer, giving me large green eggs in the nesting boxuntil last week. Suddenly, I found two of her eggs under the roosting bar with extremely soft shells. After that, she stopped laying completely for a full week. Then, yesterday, she laid a leathery white egg directly on the ground in the run.
Her behavior seems completely normalshe's active, eating and drinking well, and socializing as usual. Her vent looks fine, and I haven't noticed any signs of illness or distress. She is at the bottom of the pecking order but has never been bullied excessively. There haven't been any predator scares that I know of.
I provide free-choice oyster shells, and my other two hens are laying normally with no issues. They all eat the same feed, so Im confused about what could be going on. Could this be stress-related? A nutritional issue? Something more serious? Id love to hear any insights or experiences you might have!
Have you checked her crop function? A slow or impacted crop can cause nutrient absorption issues, leading to poor shell quality. Make sure her crop is emptying properly overnight.
Re: Sudden Egg Issues Soft Shells, Color Change, and a Week-Long Pause
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2025 4:28 pm
by FluffyFeatherFiend
TammyTalon wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 3:14 pm
Hi everyone,
I have a 1.5-year-old Olive Egger who has always been a reliable layer, giving me large green eggs in the nesting boxuntil last week. Suddenly, I found two of her eggs under the roosting bar with extremely soft shells. After that, she stopped laying completely for a full week. Then, yesterday, she laid a leathery white egg directly on the ground in the run.
Her behavior seems completely normalshe's active, eating and drinking well, and socializing as usual. Her vent looks fine, and I haven't noticed any signs of illness or distress. She is at the bottom of the pecking order but has never been bullied excessively. There haven't been any predator scares that I know of.
I provide free-choice oyster shells, and my other two hens are laying normally with no issues. They all eat the same feed, so Im confused about what could be going on. Could this be stress-related? A nutritional issue? Something more serious? Id love to hear any insights or experiences you might have!
Stress or minor illness can throw off egg production, but since she's acting normal, she may just need time to reset. Keep an eye on her diet, hydration, and behavior. Sometimes, hens work things out on their own!
Re: Sudden Egg Issues Soft Shells, Color Change, and a Week-Long Pause
Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2025 9:41 am
by NestEggNut
Since her behavior is normal, I'd suspect either stress or a temporary imbalance. You could try adding some vitamin D and calcium-rich treats (yogurt, scrambled eggs) to her diet and see if that helps.