Eggs with no shells, soft shells, or no evidence of eggs...

[~KH~]

I've searched some of the other posts, but nothing seems to be quite what my hen is doing. I have 6 hens, all hatched last July 25. The rest of them are laying an egg a day, but the Partridge Rock seems defective lol. She's laid a few (maybe 3?) eggs with fairly normal shells (and this has been a couple months ago), very occasionally will lay a soft shelled egg on the poop tray, but most of the time I see no evidence of any egg - maybe just wetter spots on the poop tray. She seems as happy and healthy as the other 5. They all get layer feed with calcium (at first I was feeding grower with calcium on the side, but after her first egg or two, switched because I thought maybe she wasn't smart enough to find the calcium...).

We have no plans to get rid of her if she doesn't lay, but I'm a little concerned, too. Thanks!

 

[micstrachan]

She could possibly have a problem with her shell gland or a laying disorder. As prey animals, chickens will hide it if they are unwell and feathers hide a lot, too
You might want to examine her and look for signs of illness. In particular, you can check her breast muscle to see if it is wasting away. Is her keel bone protruding sharply? You can also feel her abdomen, the fluffy area below her vent and between her legs, to see if it feels bloated with fluid at all. Can you check these two things and report back? Also, where does she fall in the pecking order? Is it possible she’s being bullied from feed?

 

[~KH~]

Her breast bone doesn't feel any different than the other hens, but she does feel like she's a little "fuller" in her abdomen. As far as pecking order, I don't see much, if any, bickering. She and my Salmon Favorelle are my 2 flightiest hens and don't like being picked up or touched at all, but I don't see any of them getting picked on.

 

[~KH~]

Just bumping...

 

[~KH~]

Just posting an update...this chicken has since laid a tiny egg, a couple very soft shelled eggs, and then the past 2 days, 2 normal eggs. I'm not sure if it can take a chicken a year to get her system worked out?

 

[aart]

Just posting an update...this chicken has since laid a tiny egg, a couple very soft shelled eggs, and then the past 2 days, 2 normal eggs. I'm not sure if it can take a chicken a year to get her system worked out?

Is her belly still swollen?
No, it shouldn't take a year, something is funky with her system.
Only time will tell tho.

 

[~KH~]

Is her belly still swollen?
No, it shouldn't take a year, something is funky with her system.
Only time will tell tho.

I just checked her and her belly doesn't seem swollen...she still seems happy and healthy otherwise.