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Soft shell eggs
During the autumn months as daylight dwindles and temperatures drop, it’s especially important to pay attention to our hens’ needs.
While the normal guidance still applies such as ensuring your hens have a worming routine, doing a daily poo pick and handling them regularly, there are a few potential hen health issues to be aware of during autumn, one of which is soft shell eggs.
This issue can occur when calcium is diverted away from the egg production process and towards re-growing feathers lost during a moult.
Often leathery, and pliable, soft shell eggs have a thin layer of shell surrounding the yolk and egg whites, not dissimilar to a water balloon.
There are several possible causes, including:
• As mentioned, there may be a lack of calcium in your hen’s diet, meaning she is not able to form a solid egg shell. A balanced diet is vital to avoid the condition so your hens eat enough calcium plus a healthy amount of protein and vitamin D3
• Social issues including stress, henpecking, or bullying can also lead to soft-shell eggs
• Hot weather is known to have an impact on the laying process (not an issue during autumn, of course!)