Grossly misshapen egg, squatting, screaming

[Khalpers]

Hi! My Dominique Rosie is 3 years old. Last week, she laid two very small eggs (in pic marked "last week's small egg"), what I'd normally call fairy eggs. She's just coming back into lay from the winter, so I chalked it up to that. Today she laid this bizarre egg shown below in the nesting box. Inside, it is runny with a blood spot and no yoke (shown). Later, she was standing in place and squatting, like in this picture. Rosie is always loud, but she has been absolutely screaming for the past few days, so much so that the other hens are keeping their distance. I checked out the common egg quality problems page and don't think she matches any of those suggestions except maybe a defective shell gland? (No signs of bronchitis, lots of space (see below), doubtful she's fearful of anything.) I figured I'd post just in case anyone has any ideas of how I can make her feel more comfortable. Maybe her age is just catching up with her!

I have five hens, all 3 years old. They sleep in a coop that is 5' X 3'. They have three nesting boxes. They have access to a run that is 15' by 12' during all daylight hours (solar door), and they are out in the big yard from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. In short, they have the recommended space. I don't feed them anything but layer pellets and a small handful of soldier fly larvae to share each evening. Plenty of water. The only other thing about her upkeep that I can think to mention is that she gets a lot of poop stuck to her butt, and I recently snipped off a big gob. I've tried washing her bottom in a tub and she absolutely freaks out, so I don't love the idea of bathing her in epsom salts. She is definitely my heaviest bird, but I don't feed her anything I don't feed the others, and I never ever give them table scraps. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

 

[Dottie the Chicken]

Are you offering them oyster shells for extra calcium?

@aart

 

[Khalpers]

That's a good point, Dottie! I usually do but took it away during the winter storms we had a month ago. I'll put some more out. Thanks!

 

[aart]

The only other thing about her upkeep that I can think to mention is that she gets a lot of poop stuck to her butt, and I recently snipped off a big gob.

Does she have juicy poops or......?

 

[Artichoke Lover]

Not terribly experienced here but it just looks like she’s having a glitch. I wouldn’t worry unless she starts acting odd or starts to lay them more regularly. They are more common in older birds and birds coming back into lay after a break. I don’t think it’s a lack of calcium since there’s no yolk. A lack of calcium wouldn’t cause that.

 

[Khalpers]

Does she have juicy poops or......?

I think they’re normal? It’s hard to tell with five girls who’s doing what.

 

[Khalpers]

Not terribly experienced here but it just looks like she’s having a glitch. I wouldn’t worry unless she starts acting odd or starts to lay them more regularly. They are more common in older birds and birds coming back into lay after a break. I don’t think it’s a lack of calcium since there’s no yolk. A lack of calcium wouldn’t cause that.

Thanks! I am probably worried for nothing, but that one egg alarmed me

 

[aart]

I think they’re normal? It’s hard to tell with five girls who’s doing what.

When I have a bird that is 'off' I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor:
- their intake of food and water,
-crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed),
-and their poops.
Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.
Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.


Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

 

[Khalpers]

When I have a bird that is 'off' I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor:
- their intake of food and water,
-crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed),
-and their poops.
Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.
Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.


Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

Thanks very much for your help! Sounds like a plan.

 

[Khalpers]

When I have a bird that is 'off' I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor:
- their intake of food and water,
-crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed),
-and their poops.
Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.
Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.


Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

On thought... Is it possible that she is egg bound, but still laying these tiny weird eggs? Could that be why they are oblong and yesterday's so misshapen?