Egg laying issues

[aart]

laying sounds

What are 'laying sounds'?
....the egg song bucbucbucbagaw?
....or a soft bucbucbucbuc?
Wonders if she's thinking about going broody.

 

[rebrascora]

You are watering down the protein and calcium content of their feed by adding the corn and mixing it in allows them to pick out the bits they like.... usually corn... and sometimes waste quite a bit of the rest, so they may even be getting a higher proportion than a third of corn. Do they also have access to crushed oyster shell and/or crushed egg shells? If she is laying soft shelled eggs then the first thing to look at is calcium levels. I appreciate that your other two are laying fine but in the long run they may be depleting the calcium in their bones to produce good egg shells and sooner or later it will become a problem. Soft shelled eggs, as you are finding out, can lead to egg eating as well as egg binding..... passing a soft shelled egg is much harder than a hard one.
I would cut out the corn all together for a while and just feed them a complete layer feed.... there is less waste with pellets than crumbles or mash, so worth considering unless you ferment. It may take a week or so for calcium levels in their bodies to be restored, so a direct supplement of calcium via a quarter of a Tums tablet twice a day to Dusty may help to top her up. Calcium not only makes stronger egg shells and bones but is also used by the body for the muscle contractions that are needed to expel an egg.
I would also continue with warm Epsom salts baths.... needs to be warm rather than tepid.... the sort of temperature you would enjoy bathing in yourself, so that the warmth relaxes her and perhaps some gentle massage and lubrication of her vent whilst she is bathing. Obviously, make sure to dry her thoroughly (hairdryer works well) unless you live in a hot climate.

Good luck

Barbara

 

[jaclyncarneal]

What are 'laying sounds'?
....the egg song bucbucbucbagaw?
....or a soft bucbucbucbuc?
Wonders if she's thinking about going broody.

The egg song in nesting box and walking around its softer but same noises my ladies make before they lay. Funny thing is she only sings the egg song when shes on another hens egg. Could she be broody over other hens eggs?

 

[jaclyncarneal]

You are watering down the protein and calcium content of their feed by adding the corn and mixing it in allows them to pick out the bits they like.... usually corn... and sometimes waste quite a bit of the rest, so they may even be getting a higher proportion than a third of corn. Do they also have access to crushed oyster shell and/or crushed egg shells? If she is laying soft shelled eggs then the first thing to look at is calcium levels. I appreciate that your other two are laying fine but in the long run they may be depleting the calcium in their bones to produce good egg shells and sooner or later it will become a problem. Soft shelled eggs, as you are finding out, can lead to egg eating as well as egg binding..... passing a soft shelled egg is much harder than a hard one.
I would cut out the corn all together for a while and just feed them a complete layer feed.... there is less waste with pellets than crumbles or mash, so worth considering unless you ferment. It may take a week or so for calcium levels in their bodies to be restored, so a direct supplement of calcium via a quarter of a Tums tablet twice a day to Dusty may help to top her up. Calcium not only makes stronger egg shells and bones but is also used by the body for the muscle contractions that are needed to expel an egg.
I would also continue with warm Epsom salts baths.... needs to be warm rather than tepid.... the sort of temperature you would enjoy bathing in yourself, so that the warmth relaxes her and perhaps some gentle massage and lubrication of her vent whilst she is bathing. Obviously, make sure to dry her thoroughly (hairdryer works well) unless you live in a hot climate.

Good luck

Barbara

Thanks! We planned to get oyster shell tomorrow and ill take all your advice gladly ❤

 

[Kathy Golla]

I agree with the comment about cutting out the corn. I'm also thinking treats 5 times a day is way too much. Treats (anything other than layer feed) should only be 5% of their diet. About 2 tablespoons a day of treats per hen. Feed them a good layer feed and grit and oyster shells and see if anything improves.

 

[jaclyncarneal]

I'm thinking treats 5 times a day is way too much. Treats (anything other than layer feed) should only be 5% of their diet. About a 2 tablespoons a day of treats per hen. Feed them a good layer feed and grit and oyster shells and see if anything improves.

Alas i do love my pets to death =/. I do the same thing to my cat. Ill cut their treats down alot and were giving them oyster shells starting tomorrow. Im hoping this will help her. I love her and i love giving her treats but not if its hurting her.

 

[Kathy Golla]

I know...I do the same thing which is why I know those figures!! I have to keep constantly reminding myself that obesity is the leading killer and contributor to death in chickens.

 

[CKMore]

How do you do that?

You can usually feel an egg, but do not push hard as to break the egg inside her

Here is a thread about the subject on Egg Binding

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/egg-binding-symptoms-treatment-and-prevention.66978/