chicken laying egg without a shell

[Taunton52]

One of my chickens has started to lay eggs without a shell. Not all the time but every so often

Any ideas what i can do?

[sandy]

First how old is said hen?

[Taunton52]

Only about 2 years

[sandy]

Is she in good health generally? Any breathing had with her mouth closed ie not panting in the heat. How does she feel around underneath, hard or squishy?

[sandy]

I am off to bed now but these eggs are alid either due to lack of calcium which can occur in warm weather or an oviduct problem or viral infection. If she is hard it may be a sign of egg yolk perotinutus (hope not) or squishy maybe a growth or some other problem sorry hard to say without seeing feeling her.

[KarenE]

Either that, or perhaps she is winding down from laying to get ready for a moult. Hens that are just starting or ending laying can lay shelless eggs. But Sandy makes good points - check over her general health.

Does she have a history of egg problems? What kind of layer is she - regular, haphazard, soft shells etc?

[Taunton52]

Thank you. I'm not sure which of my chickens it is but they all appear in good health. They always have access to oyster shells and have a good quality layers mash. Is there anything else I should be giving them.?

[sandy]

A bit of limestone flour mixed in with their mash may help. Maybe the softies are coming from a few of them and not just the one, I am getting quite a few softies at the moment so if al your girls are well and happy you can relax But I would just give them all a little feel over anyway.