Egg laying issues

[jaclyncarneal]

So my EE Dusty laid wonky eggs for about a week or 2 (as in oblong), which i dont mind A+ for effort. She has ALWAYS laid in her nesting box after the first egg (i put her first one in it and shes done well ever since). Well all of a sudden we were sitting with the girls and on the ground i saw a fake looking egg (assumed it was my 7yr olds toy). Before my fiancee could confirm it being a toy or not (within seconds) the girls popped and ate it. So it had no shell but was certainly a product of Dusty. Then she laid a chalky egg in the nesting box. She laid another and accidentally popped it trying to brood. Ever since she hasnt laid (about 4 days now). I dont mind that she isnt laying just want to be sure shes ok. She eats, drinks, and acts normal.

 

[aart]

How old is she?
May be getting ready to molt, wonky eggs not uncommon at that time.

 

[jaclyncarneal]

Cant be positive. Got her when she wasnt laying and 2-3 days later she started to lay.

 

[CKMore]

Have you checked her to make sure she doesn't have a egg stuck in the track?

 

[aart]

Cant be positive. Got her when she wasnt laying and 2-3 days later she started to lay.

So did you get her recently.....or.....
Wondering was she hatched this year or is she over year old?
What and how exactly are you feeding?
Do you have other birds....they laying OK?

 

[jaclyncarneal]

Have you checked her to make sure she doesn't have a egg stuck in the track?

How do you do that?

 

[jaclyncarneal]

So did you get her recently.....or.....
Wondering was she hatched this year or is she over year old?
What and how exactly are you feeding?
Do you have other birds....they laying OK?

We got her very recently. Roughly a month ago if that. We feed her the same thing as my other chickens who lay everyday. Egg laying crumble, a high protien mix, and cracked corn mixed together. They also get daily snacks 4/5x a day. Snacks being anything like= popcorn, yogurt, tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries, etc

 

[jaclyncarneal]

My other 2 that are old enough to lay are very faithful at laying daily. Ones a red sex link (or rhode island red i cant remember) and the other is a mix but looks like a barred rock. I am getting worried because Dusty keeps laying in the nesting box so shes trying but nothing comes out

 

[aart]

Egg laying crumble, a high protien mix, and cracked corn mixed together.

How high is protein?
What ratio of layer to corn is the mix?
Can you post a pic of her?
If she's over or near a year, she may be getting ready to molt....or a combo of new place, new feed, shortening days.....sometimes there's no finite answer, you might just have to wait and see.

Many birds will sit in the nest and not lay, or she may be hiding from the others, do they get along OK? Unless she is actively pushing very hard and seems distressed I'd not be too concerned.
Not real sure how to tell if an egg is stuck, tho from what I've read an egg bound hen will walk like a penguin, tail down and kind of shuffling along, but check her vent and abdomen closely, parting the feathers down to the skin to look for any swelling or other abnormalities.

 

[jaclyncarneal]

How high is protein?
What ratio of layer to corn is the mix?
Can you post a pic of her?
If she's over or near a year, she may be getting ready to molt....or a combo of new place, new feed, shortening days.....sometimes there's no finite answer, you might just have to wait and see.

Many birds will sit in the nest and not lay, or she may be hiding from the others, do they get along OK? Unless she is actively pushing very hard and seems distressed I'd not be too concerned.
Not real sure how to tell if an egg is stuck, tho from what I've read an egg bound hen will walk like a penguin, tail down and kind of shuffling along, but check her vent and abdomen closely, parting the feathers down to the skin to look for any swelling or other abnormalities.

She doesnt walk like a penguin, she is head of the pack so no one really bothers her, she sits in the box and makes sounds like she is laying but nothing comes out. Otherwise shes acting normal but does have some diarrhea (can be due to tomatoes and juicy fruit snacks she gets though). Her abdomen isnt swollen, but we gave her a soak in luke warm water but hasnt seemed to help her lay. She sat in the box for an hour making laying noise, until my other hen gave her hell because she wanted in that box to lay. So then dusty spent 10 min making laying sounds walking around. Ratio: 1/3 corn roughly, protien he cant remember what % it is.