Soft shell, no shell, then pacing in and out of nesting boxes

[CJS Flock]

Hi all,
I have a White Rock that has been laying for a few months now. She lays medium size eggs about every day to two days. She is 8 months old. Yesterday morning I found a soft shelled egg under her roosting bar and then this morning found one without a shell. She is now pacing in and out of the nesting boxes. She is a great eater and forager. No signs of illness, has oyster shells available at all times and only gets blueberries every few days. I have a video monitor in the coop so I know it is her laying these eggs and can see her pacing. Wondering if I should be concerned because of the pacing that she is doing. Anyone seen this type of behavior before?

 

[Colormeblue]

Hi all,
I have a White Rock that has been laying for a few months now. She lays medium size eggs about every day to two days. She is 8 months old. Yesterday morning I found a soft shelled egg under her roosting bar and then this morning found one without a shell. She is now pacing in and out of the nesting boxes. She is a great eater and forager. No signs of illness, has oyster shells available at all times and only gets blueberries every few days. I have a video monitor in the coop so I know it is her laying these eggs and can see her pacing. Wondering if I should be concerned because of the pacing that she is doing. Anyone seen this type of behavior before?

I was just told a calcium nitrate pill may work. I have a 6mo old sex link doing the same thing. Mine won't eat oyster shells or crushed egg shells.

 

[Colormeblue]

I was just told a calcium nitrate pill may work. I have a 6mo old sex link doing the same thing. Mine won't eat oyster shells or crushed egg shells.

Sorry, that's calcium citrate.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I'd give her a Calcium Citrate or if you don't have that, Tums will work (just not as well). Place her in a makeshift nest that's dark and without distractions and if you can make the nest in a steamy bathroom, that'd be ideal. Check on her in about an hour. Is she able to poop?

 

[Colormeblue]

Yes, she poops just fine. Tums is an idea, I have those.

 

[Colormeblue]

Yes, she poops just fine. Tums is an idea, I have those.

How would you feed the tablets to her?

 

[HeatherKellyB]

How would you feed the tablets to her?

With Tums, I broke it up and offered it to her. If she doesn't take it like that, I trash that one and break another in half. Open her beak and pop it in and repeat with the other half.

 

[Colormeblue]

With Tums, I broke it up and offered it to her. If she doesn't take it like that, I trash that one and break another in half. Open her beak and pop it in and repeat with the other half.

Thanks, I'll try it

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Thanks, I'll try it

Please let us know how she does and if she ever lays. It'd be a good idea to get a bottle of Calcium Citrate + Vit D3 (human "CitraCal", I use the generic version) and give her one tablet per day until she's back to laying a nicely shelled egg. Calcium Citrate works better for the hen plus the vitamin D3 helps it work better. It's superior to Tums but in a pinch, Tums is better than nothing. I wish you the best and hope she's already laid and back to normal

 

[Colormeblue]

Please let us know how she does and if she ever lays. It'd be a good idea to get a bottle of Calcium Citrate + Vit D3 (human "CitraCal", I use the generic version) and give her one tablet per day until she's back to laying a nicely shelled egg. Calcium Citrate works better for the hen plus the vitamin D3 helps it work better. It's superior to Tums but in a pinch, Tums is better than nothing. I wish you the best and hope she's already laid and back to normal

Will do - thanks much