Egg Laying Issue?

[stephg84]

Hi all! We got a year old blue copper Marans about 6 weeks ago. She has been laying consistently up until recently. A few days ago, she laid a super soft shell egg either during the night or early morning. I found it under the roost. The next day, she attempted to sit in the nesting box, but after about 20 min got out and laid an even softer shelled egg in the run. Nothing happened for a day, and then I found remnants of egg under the roost this morning, no shell!

She’s eating, drinking, pooping and acting completely normal otherwise. They have access to oyster shell and grit, although I’ve never seen her eat any. Any thoughts as to what’s going on? Or ways to improve her calcium intake? Thanks!

 

[azygous]

She's very lucky one of these soft eggs hasn't gummed up her works. Do you notice that these eggs are coming closer together than every 25 hours? This is a not uncommon problem. It happens from time to time with some hens and a corrective with calcium supplement is the remedy.

It's not enough sometimes just to supply ouster shell as some hens have problems assimilating the calcium. Sometimes it's a temporary issue and the calcium supplement can correct it. I give calcium citrate with D3 and minerals minimum 400mg. at the first sign of a soft egg and continue once a day until the eggs appear normal again.

 

[stephg84]

She's very lucky one of these soft eggs hasn't gummed up her works. Do you notice that these eggs are coming closer together than every 25 hours? This is a not uncommon problem. It happens from time to time with some hens and a corrective with calcium supplement is the remedy.

It's not enough sometimes just to supply ouster shell as some hens have problems assimilating the calcium. Sometimes it's a temporary issue and the calcium supplement can correct it. I give calcium citrate with D3 and minerals minimum 400mg. at the first sign of a soft egg and continue once a day until the eggs appear normal again.

No, they are farther apart than 25 hours. And I know, very lucky as far as not getting stuck or anything.

Where do you get the calcium citrate? Feed store or online? Thank you!

 

[azygous]

Good old Walmart has it in the vitamin aisle.

 

[aart]

They have access to oyster shell and grit, although I’ve never seen her eat any.

What is their regular feed?
Sometimes bird don't 'get' eating OS out of the separate feeder at first,
so I will sprinkle some around on the ground with the scratch and/or sprinkle a few pieces on top of the feed.