Egg laying issues after molt

[AggieKat]

My hen, Sirius, who previously had a case of sour crop during the start of her molt, is now finished with her first molt. Finally! However, in getting back to laying eggs, she’s been having trouble. She has laid several soft shelled eggs in the run and then the two hens ate the yolk. She had one shell less egg on the porch and I think another one in the egg box.

She is eating and drinking fine, no waddling around like she would be egg bound. Poops are normal. Feed is Purina Layena. I added oyster shell free choice on the side as well as a smaller waterer with ACV.

I started Calcium citrate + Vit D tablets today…should I try anything else? Is is just from coming out of molt and not laying?

 

[neo71665]

I would ditch the ACV

 

[Obsessed With Silkies]

You may need a calcium supplement. I know at Tractor Supply they have a feed that is called Layena and it includes an oyster shell supplement. After giving this to my chickens I noticed a difference in the hardness of the shells. Before their shells were pretty thin but once they had this, there was a clear difference.

 

[Yardmom]

Laying multiple soft shelled eggs after molt is not normal. It sounds like you are doing all the right things. It sounds like you already know to keep an eye on her to make sure a soft egg doesn't get stuck. Sorry, I don't know of anything else to do for reproductive issues.

 

[coach723]

I have had birds have all sorts of weird issues coming into or out of molt, it happens. Give the calcium citrate once a day for a week, see if things improve. If they get deficient then the amount in the feed may not be enough to reverse that, once you get it back up to normal levels, then the feed and oyster shell should be enough to maintain it. Diet matters too, vitamin D is important, and too many of some types of greens can inhibit calcium absorption. Greens (and other foods) that are high in oxalates (oxalic acid) should be limited. Some birds are more sensitive than others. How old is she?

 

[AggieKat]

You may need a calcium supplement. I know at Tractor Supply they have a feed that is called Layena and it includes an oyster shell supplement. After giving this to my chickens I noticed a difference in the hardness of the shells. Before their shells were pretty thin but once they had this, there was a clear difference.

Yes that’s the feed they’ve always been on. That’s why I’m wondering what else I can do or if there could be another underlying cause that I’m missing? It’s been a good feed so far but I guess molting was just hard on her

 

[AggieKat]

I have had birds have all sorts of weird issues coming into or out of molt, it happens. Give the calcium citrate once a day for a week, see if things improve. If they get deficient then the amount in the feed may not be enough to reverse that, once you get it back up to normal levels, then the feed and oyster shell should be enough to maintain it. Diet matters too, vitamin D is important, and too many of some types of greens can inhibit calcium absorption. Greens (and other foods) that are high in oxalates (oxalic acid) should be limited. Some birds are more sensitive than others. How old is she?

We haven’t been giving greens as treats so that’s good to rule that out. She is almost 2 years old and this was her first molt. Super late in the season bc Texas weather is wacky.

 

[Obsessed With Silkies]

Yes that’s the feed they’ve always been on. That’s why I’m wondering what else I can do or if there could be another underlying cause that I’m missing? It’s been a good feed so far but I guess molting was just hard on her

Hmm, interesting. Hopefully she can get back into the egg laying routine.

 

[AggieKat]

We are on day 5 of giving the Calcium Citrate + D and today there was another shell-less/soft shelled egg but on the droppings board. It can’t be bronchitis or egg drop syndrome because my other hen is not sick or having any egg laying problems. What else can I be doing? Just keep giving the calcium citrate right?

Other than the weird eggs, Sirius is acting normal, eating and drinking fine. Running around the yard and wanting treats. We are limiting anything else still besides their Layena feed and free choice oyster shells. I wish I knew what was wrong.

@Wyorp Rock @azygous y’all are my chicken health gurus. Do you have any insight?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'd continue with the extra Calcium for another 3-5 days.

Re-check to make sure her crop is emptying, look her over for lice/mites. Has she been dewormed?
Sometimes hens begin to have issues with soft shelled and shell less eggs and no matter how much calcium they get or what they are fed, the eggs just don't firm up. If that's the case then a shell gland defect may be suspected. I don't know of any fix or remedy for that.
Rule out stress, lice/mites, worms, etc.