Help! 2 soft eggs in one evening!

[mando4mary74]

My favorite hen was acting strange this evening. Very tired acting and just uninterested. She always runs to me when I go out but she wouldn't get up. Her wings were drooping and she was just off. We immediately quarantined her. Within 2 hours she laid 2 soft shelled eggs. We still have her apart from the flock. What could this be??? Thanks for any and all comments!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

More than likely she released two ovum pretty close together. They can't apply a shell to both eggs as it takes roughly 24 hours to apply it. So they were both pushed out without shells which can be harder and uncomfortable, and sometimes can cause a prolapse. Hopefully it was a one time occurrence. As long as your hen goes back to normal I wouldn't worry.

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like she may have an impacted oviduct or salpingitis. I would give her a human calcium tablet with vitamin d3 daily for several days to see if her shells harden. Soft eggs are difficult to lay, and they can get stuck easily. Does she have layer feed with crushed oyster shell available ? Can you make sure that she is drinking well? Here is some reading:
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul...tem/egg-bound-or-impacted-oviducts-in-poultry

https://wagwalking.com/bird/condition/impacted-oviduct

http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/oviduct-impaction

 

[MissChick@dee]

I had that happen with my hen. Not 2 soft shells but one regular egg and 4 hours later a “softie”. We’d had terrible heat and I think that’s what triggered her hiccup in the ovum department. She continued to lay normally after that. It was just strange kinda freaked me out.

 

[Eggcessive]

Hopefully, it is just a temporary thing. I would give the calcium though, and when her shells are hard, then stop it. Soft eggs can get stuck causing egg binding.

 

[snow5164]

What do you mean by “ human calcium pill?” Tums ?

I have soft eggs everyday but I’m not sure who’s laying them , on layer with calcium on the side .

I think it’s from stress that’s gone now, but I’m wondering if I should do something for mine too ?

 

[MissChick@dee]

Chickens can lay softies for many different reasons. Young ones just starting to lay. Older hens toward the end of their laying years. Hens that are being feed the wrong type of feed ie; still eating grower feed. Stress from heat, predators, new environment. Illness of some type. If you have a hen who continues to lay softies any of the situations could apply. If laying hens do not get enough calcium in their diets they can pull it from other parts of their body’s (bones) which can lead to serious health & reproductive issues. I give my girls oyster shell. It’s available as a free feed at all times. When my girls go to lay their first egg (you can tell when they are ready) I like to give them a little chunk of “tums” in a grape they have laid every time this way (no prolapse no softies). If I have a hen who appears to be egg bound I do the same thing. Tums is a quick shot of calcium NOT a dietary supplement. Oyster shell or clean/roasted eggshells (finely ground) are good to use. I spoil mine with yogurt (18%calcium). I have a friend that buys calcium powder at the drug store for his hens. So if you have a hen that lays softies regularly you should take a closer look into what’s going on with her.

 

[Kiki]

IMG_20180609_114154

• Kiki
• Jun 9, 2018

IMG_20180609_114112

• Kiki
• Jun 9, 2018

IMG_20180609_114133

• Kiki
• Jun 9, 2018

 

[mando4mary74]

It sounds like she may have an impacted oviduct or salpingitis. I would give her a human calcium tablet with vitamin d3 daily for several days to see if her shells harden. Soft eggs are difficult to lay, and they can get stuck easily. Does she have layer feed with crushed oyster shell available ? Can you make sure that she is drinking well? Here is some reading:
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul...tem/egg-bound-or-impacted-oviducts-in-poultry

https://wagwalking.com/bird/condition/impacted-oviduct

http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/oviduct-impaction

Yes, she has layer feed with oyster shell as well as free oyster shell available. She laid a normal egg a few times. She seems normal this morning and running about. I will get her a supplement just in case she doesn't eat the oyster shell. She seems to be drinking normally. Thanks so much!

 

[mando4mary74]

I had that happen with my hen. Not 2 soft shells but one regular egg and 4 hours later a “softie”. We’d had terrible heat and I think that’s what triggered her hiccup in the ovum department. She continued to lay normally after that. It was just strange kinda freaked me out.

It was terribly hot here yesterday, so, that could have triggered it??