Soft or missing shells..occur when a hen's shell-forming mechanism malfunctions or for some reason one of her eggs is rushed through and laid prematurely. Since the shell forms just before an egg is laid, stress induced by fright or excitement can cause a hen to expel an egg before the shell is finished.
A nutritional deficiency, especially of Vitamin D or calcium, can cause soft shells. A laying hen's calcium needs are increased by age and by warm weather (when hens eat less and therefore get less calcium from their rations). Appropriate nutritional supplements include free choice limestone or ground oyster shell and vitamin A D & E powder added to drinking water three times a week. Soft shells that are laid when production peaks in spring, and occasional soft or missing shells are nothing to worry about. If they persist, however, they may be a sign of serious disease, especially infectious bronchitis, Newcastle disease, or infectious laryngotracheitis, all of which are accompained by a drop in production....
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