1yr old hen laying spiral shaped membrane and soft shelled eggs

[ashleymorin87]

Only one hen laying so many soft shelled eggs is surly a reason for concern.

I am concerned. Definitely not normal. The calcium is available in a couple different forms. Should I manually supplement her (if/when I can identify, gonna try the makeup marking of the vents). What about vitamin D? Would there be a calcium absorption problem? I’m not sure, just looking for input. I am a licensed veterinary technician but I have very little clinical experience with poultry.

 

[aart]

Only one hen laying so many soft shelled eggs is surly a reason for concern.

Actually it's less of a concern, IMO.
If only one bird is having problems laying, then it's not the diet or environment.
It's just one dud of a bird.

 

[Paz]

I am concerned. Definitely not normal. The calcium is available in a couple different forms. Should I manually supplement her (if/when I can identify, gonna try the makeup marking of the vents). What about vitamin D? Would there be a calcium absorption problem? I’m not sure, just looking for input. I am a licensed veterinary technician but I have very little clinical experience with poultry.

You can try giving them all vitamins and see if it helps.

 

[ashleymorin87]

You can try giving them all vitamins and see if it helps.

Thanks for you input. I think I will dose the whole flock with vitamins, can’t hurt.

 

[TX Chick Noob]

If you feel it is a calcium issue and figure out who it is the usual recommendation is a calcium citrate +D3 tablet (from the vitamin section of most grocery stores or drug stores) once a day. Because you wouldn’t want to give that to everyone.

 

[Magda12]

There are a few things you can try to do to find out who it is. Some people use lipstick or gel food coloring to make the vents of several hens. So you can identify who lays which egg. Don’t use red.

But just to be clear, because although some things *shouldn't* need to be said, some people still require them to be said. Discard the lipstick after...

 

[aart]

But just to be clear, because although some things *shouldn't* need to be said, some people still require them to be said. Discard the lipstick after...

...or use food dye instead:

 

[aart]

I think I will dose the whole flock with vitamins, can’t hurt.

Why supplement the whole flock when only one bird has an issue?

 

[Paz]

Why supplement the whole flock when only one bird has an issue?

Because he doesn’t know who’s got it yet.
I simply put half multi vitamins tablet in one of their water buckets, they slowly drink it, and seem happier overall.
Their molting was only a couple of weeks this year, whereas most years they molted for months!
If they hate it they can just drink from the dumbbell water container.

 

[aart]

Because he doesn’t know who’s got it yet.

Well, vitamins are not going to fix a broken reproductive system.
.....and they should be getting plenty of vitamins from their feed.