Egg with no shell

[Stina5]

I have an americauna hen that’s a little over a year old & is very inconsistent at laying. Her eggs are very small & this past weekend, she laid an egg without the shell. I’m assuming it’s a genetic defect. She is from a hatchery & the other female I got the same time as her “her sister” is the total opposite. She is very consistent at laying large green/blue eggs. Any advice would help. Thank in advance

 

[Stina5]

I would also like to know what that tail looking thing is...

 

[ChickNanny13]

It's a soft egg that I've read "young" ones sometimes lay, a glitch in their system but waiting to see what the experienced say ... Still say looks like it was fertile.

@Wyorp Rock @aart @azygous

 

[azygous]

She's a novice layer. Don't be concerned unless she is consistently passing these things. A hen might leave something strange in a nest or under the roost just to keep things interesting. But keep an eye on her just the same.

 

[tamiep]

I have a chicken that is maybe 3 or 4 years old. I don't know because I rescued her. I think she's a very fat Rhode Island Red. Maybe. Anyway, non of my chickens or ducks lay at night, but I went out to shut the coop and she had just laid an egg and right next to it was an egg with no shell. Next to it was what looked like the membrane. Oddly, she was just standing there and would not move. I turned her around to look at her butt to see if anything was hanging there or if there was any blood, but I didn't see anything. But she just stood there. Usually she'd have her sleeping spot on the other side of the coop at this time. I seems confused or stunned or something.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Thank you azygous for rapid response I'm learning from all of you

 

[azygous]

I have a chicken that is maybe 3 or 4 years old. I don't know because I rescued her. I think she's a very fat Rhode Island Red. Maybe. Anyway, non of my chickens or ducks lay at night, but I went out to shut the coop and she had just laid an egg and right next to it was an egg with no shell. Next to it was what looked like the membrane. Oddly, she was just standing there and would not move. I turned her around to look at her butt to see if anything was hanging there or if there was any blood, but I didn't see anything. But she just stood there. Usually she'd have her sleeping spot on the other side of the coop at this time. I seems confused or stunned or something.

Your hen released two ovum one right after the other. They traveled down the oviduct in close succession and by the time they neared the shell gland, she was likely in a great deal of discomfort, cramping up and feeling a lot of pressure.

This sort of thing is not desirable, and it's very risky as a soft egg is much more difficult to pass. This is one way hens get egg bound. I have a young hen with this problem. When she passes two eggs like yours did, I start her on calcium citrate 400mg with D3. The calcium will regulate her and make it less likely that she releases two ovum. Stop the calcium when she starts laying normally. Start out with just half a tablet a day. Increase it to a whole tablet if you don't see quick improvement.

 

[Fishkeeper]

Do your hens have access to oystershell?

 

[Stina5]

Do your hens have access to oystershell?

Me? No but I can go get some...

 

[Stina5]

She's a novice layer. Don't be concerned unless she is consistently passing these things. A hen might leave something strange in a nest or under the roost just to keep things interesting. But keep an eye on her just the same.

Thank you for your response! I will definitely keep a close eye on her.