You head to the nest box as usual, expecting firm, smooth eggs waiting for collection. But today something feels strange the moment you reach in. Instead of a solid shell, your fingers press into something rubbery. The egg collapses slightly, almost like a balloon with a thin, fragile skin.
And instantly the questions begin: Why Your Chickens Are Suddenly Laying Soft Eggs (And How to Fix It!) — are you doing something wrong? Are your birds sick? Is there a way to stop this, or is it a serious warning sign?
Soft-shelled eggs are one of the most common, confusing, and worrying issues backyard chicken keepers face. The good news? In many cases, it’s not only fixable — but entirely preventable.
This article explores every possible cause of soft eggs, how to correctly diagnose what’s happening in your coop, and exactly what steps to take to solve it fast and permanently.
What Is a “Soft Egg”?
A soft egg—also called a rubber egg, shell-less egg, or thin-shelled egg—is one that has either:
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No hard calcified shell at all (just a membrane)
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A papery, flimsy shell that breaks easily
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A shell that’s pliable when you press it gently
These eggs often look partially transparent, wrinkled, or deflated. While strange-looking, they still often contain a normal yolk and albumen inside.
Why Do Chickens Need a Hard Shell? (Understanding the Egg Process)
A healthy hen’s body takes around 25–27 hours to form one egg. Of this time, 20+ hours are spent forming the shell. The shell is made almost entirely of calcium carbonate, deposited layer by layer in the shell gland. For this process to work properly, hens need:
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Enough calcium in their diet
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A balanced ratio of phosphorus and vitamin D3
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A healthy reproductive system
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Low stress and good hydration
If any step in this delicate process is interrupted, you’ll see soft eggs.
Why Your Chickens Are Suddenly Laying Soft Eggs (top reasons)
1. Calcium Deficiency (Most Common Cause)
Hens need about 4–5 grams of calcium per egg. If your feed or supplements aren’t supplying enough, or your hens aren’t eating them, soft eggs appear quickly.
Check for:
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Crumbly or paper-thin shells
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Other hens still laying normal eggs (suggesting individual intake issues)
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Feed without added calcium or insufficient oyster shell access
Fix:
Provide free-choice crushed oyster shell or natural limestone grit. Use a layer feed with 3–4% calcium and reduce treats or scratch grains that dilute nutrient intake.
2. Imbalanced Diet (Too Many Treats, Not Enough Nutrition)
Are you offering lots of kitchen scraps, corn, rice, or bread? Too many treats can throw off your flock’s nutrient balance.
Fix:
Make sure 90%+ of their intake is from a complete layer feed. Keep snacks under 10%, especially during peak laying season.
3. Young Hens Just Starting to Lay (Pullets)
When pullets begin laying (around 18–22 weeks), it takes a few weeks for their reproductive system to calibrate. Soft eggs are common in this stage.
Fix:
Give them time. As long as they’re on a balanced layer diet, their bodies will soon normalize.
4. Older Hens Near the End of Lay (Senescence)
Aging hens often experience reproductive slow-down, making occasional soft eggs.
Fix:
No fix needed—this is natural. You can support with extra calcium, vitamins, and stress reduction, but expect frequency to increase with age.
5. Vitamin D3 Deficiency (Can’t Absorb Calcium)
Without enough vitamin D3, hens cannot absorb calcium—even if you give plenty.
Causes: low sunlight exposure, feed stored too long (vitamins degrade), or lack of supplementation.
Fix:
Use a quality feed with D3, provide sunshine, or add a poultry vitamin supplement in water.
6. Stress (Predator Visits, Heat, Bullying)
Stress releases hormones that interfere with normal egg formation.
Possible stress triggers:
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Predator near the coop
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Moving to a new environment
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Bullying/pecking order fights
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Noise or handling
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Temperature extremes (especially heat waves)
Fix:
Identify and remove stressors. Provide shade and cooling, enrich the environment, keep calm routines, and avoid overcrowding.
7. Illness or Infections
Diseases that affect the reproductive tract (such as infectious bronchitis, egg peritonitis, E. coli infections) can cause thin or shell-less eggs.
Other symptoms to look for:
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Lethargy
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Watery eyes/nasal discharge
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Diarrhea
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Decreased appetite
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Respiratory sounds
Fix:
Isolate the bird. Consult a vet if symptoms are severe. Maintain a clean, biosecure coop and vaccinate birds when possible.
8. Egg Bound or Reproductive Anomalies
Sometimes an egg forms without a shell because something went wrong moving through the oviduct.
Signs:
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A swollen rear
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Hunched posture
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Straining
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Not wanting to perch
Fix:
Provide a warm bath, lubricate vent, give calcium + electrolytes, and seek veterinary help urgently if she’s egg-bound.
9. Lack of Water or Poor Water Quality
Hydration is vital to form egg albumen, membranes, and aid shell process. Chickens may stop eating if water is dirty or empty.
Fix:
Provide fresh, clean water at all times. Keep multiple waterers in hot weather.
10. Too Much Salt or Chemicals in Feed
Accidental feed contamination (e.g. excessive electrolytes or homemade feed errors) can mess with calcium metabolism.
Fix:
Stick with reputable commercial feed or carefully follow balanced DIY formulations.
How to Fix Soft Eggs (Step-by-Step Checklist)
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Confirm Diet Quality
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Feeding layer pellets with 16–18% protein and ~4% calcium?
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Remove/reduce scratch and treats
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Offer Free-Choice Calcium
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Crushed oyster shell in a separate dish
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Don’t mix it into feed—hens only take it when needed
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Add Vitamin D3
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Use poultry multivitamins or cod liver oil (small amounts)
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Provide sunshine (15+ minutes daily if possible)
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Ensure Clean Water Access
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Multiple stations
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Shade in summer so it stays cool
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Reduce Stress
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Predator control
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Avoid sudden changes
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Provide 4 sq ft per hen indoors, 10 sq ft outdoors
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Observe Age & Reproductive Stage
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Young/new layers: give time
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Older hens: expect occasional soft eggs
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Watch for Signs of Illness
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Coughing, diarrhea, lethargy → isolate and get vet advice
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Keep the Coop Clean
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Remove droppings
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Disinfect regularly
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Dry, dust-free bedding
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Real-Life Stories
Case #1 – “Too Many Treats”
Hannah noticed her hens laying soft-shelled eggs twice a week. She fed kitchen scraps daily (rice, lettuce, fruit). Switching back to a full layer feed and limiting scraps fixed the problem within two weeks.
Case #2 – “Summer Heat Stress”
In July, David’s hens started laying rubber eggs despite the same diet. Temperatures had spiked to 40°C, and the hens were panting. Adding more waterers, frozen treats, and misting systems solved the problem.
Case #3 – “Pullets Just Starting Out”
Sam’s 22-week-old pullets laid their first eggs—soft and strange. Within a month, once their bodies matured, they started producing perfect hard-shelled beauties.
Mistakes to Avoid
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Switching from layer feed to grower feed or scratch
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Assuming all soft eggs are from lack of calcium (sometimes it’s stress or disease)
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Adding too much calcium to the feed (can cause kidney issues)
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Feeding stale or moldy feed (vitamins degrade)
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Ignoring consistent soft eggs with illness signs
FAQs About Soft Eggs in Chickens
Are soft-shelled eggs safe to eat?
Yes, if collected immediately and fully intact. Wash thoroughly and cook well.
How much oyster shell should I give?
Offer it free-choice in a separate container; hens regulate their intake themselves.
Can one hen lay soft eggs while others don’t?
Yes. She may not be eating enough calcium, might be lower in the pecking order, or have individual health issues.
What time of year are soft eggs most common?
Late spring and summer (heat stress), and when pullets first start laying.
Do stress and fear really affect shell quality?
Absolutely. Adrenaline disrupts the calcium-depositing process in the shell gland.
Can I give TUMS or human calcium tablets to my hen?
As a short-term emergency fix, yes—but oyster shell and layer feed are better long-term.
Is grit the same as calcium?
No. Grit (small stones) helps digest food. Calcium (like oyster shell) supports shell formation.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Panic—Just Take Action
Soft-shelled eggs are a warning signal—but rarely a catastrophe. They’re your hen’s way of telling you something is slightly out of balance.
By understanding the real causes behind rubber eggs and following the practical steps above, you can quickly support your hens back to laying strong, perfect shells.
Next Step: Head out to your coop today and check:
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Feed bag ingredients
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Oyster shell availability
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Water cleanliness
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Signs of heat stress or illness
A quick routine change now can make all the difference—not just for egg quality, but for your hens’ long-term health and happiness.