Show egg shell hard when laid the shell of the hens egg is under normal conditions hard at the time that the egg is laid the shell is deposited by special mineral secret ing glands in the upper part of the reproductive system the egg has several hours to harden before it is laid there is a lapse of time of twenty four to twenty six hours between the time that the yolk is released and the time that the egg is laid it is under abnormal condl condi eions when there is some physiological upset in the reproductive organs that the sott soft shelled egg is laid |