My duck and chickens lay squishy eggs?

Question

my chickens would lay squishy-shelled eggs when they had just started laying... i just thought it was because they were young. but once in a while they still do.

my duck lays squishy eggs too. she just started 3 days ago. 2 out of 3 eggs were really soft.

i don't see how it can be from lack of calcium, because the chicken's dish always has tons of layer-feed in it and i feed my ducks as much as they can eat too.

this feed has a lot of calcium in it... so much so, that the bag says it can cause kidney failure in very young birds because of the calcium.

what is wrong with them?

thanks!

Answer 1

don't worry! =)

Nothing is wrong

It is perfectly normal in chickens and ducks to lay a squishy jelly like egg every now and then

It is mostly common though with birds who are just starting to lay.

but if it happens every single day whatever the age of the bird.. then it isn't getting enough calcium.

get some dried crushed oyster shells for them and either mix with the feed or give separately

But as they have just started to lay don't worry things will soon settle down.

and like i said it is normal to get a squishy one every now and again.

(I get one or two now and again from my birds)

not often that being said though

Answer 2

You need to feed them oyster shells.  The food you are feeding them does not sound very safe.  Oyster shells are great because they use it as grit too, and it has calcium.  It should be fed free-choice in a container next to their food and water.