HELP! MY HEN LAYED EGGLESS EGG!!!

[IloveChickens3000]

Hello everyone. I really need help. I am super scared. I had a rhode island before and she layed a eggless egg and sadly passed. I have another rhode island red hen and she layed a eggless egg right in front of me. For the past few days I have noticed she was a little slow in walking. She would eat and drink but she wouldn't really run around with the others. Can anybody PLEASE help me. She is one of my special hens. Is there any thing I can do for her? Thank you so so much to the ones that helped me out.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

It's not a disease. It's hormonal and nutritional. It's not contagious.

If she's only four months, she just started laying. In which case she will probably outgrow it. It's probably hormonal.

Just provide a little dish of oyster shell (Or yes, crushed egg shells are fine too) and wait it out.

That's what I would do.
The only other thing you could do is isolate her and watch her closely for other symptoms.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Here's a good article;
https://groworganicforlife.com/blog...-lay-eggs-with-soft-shells-or-without-a-shell

"
AGE
The first thing to check from your flock is its age. Soft eggs or eggs missing shells are common to first-time layers than older hens. The biological framework of younger hens is still undeveloped and needs a little more time to get used to laying.


CALCIUM DEFICIENCY
Another reason is not enough calcium in your hens’ diet. We have a tendency of feeding grower rations to young hens while older ones get layer ration. Grower feeds have less calcium as compared to layers. Your hens will need enough of this nutrient to support the building of egg shells.

If you notice your hens, young or old, laying soft eggs for the first time, switch them to a layer ration. Most of the time, this works and you will notice the subsequent eggs of your hens are now normal and healthy. Otherwise, feed your chickens with a calcium supplement to support their growth."

And another;
https://www.myfrugalhome.com/why-hens-sometimes-lay-shell-less-eggs/

 

[IloveChickens3000]

Can you get a picture of the weird egg?

Sorry I had to burry the egg. My hen was eating it. But the egg was seperated from the yolk and shell. The yolk was on the side and the shell was rubbery right next to it.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Calcium deficiency is usually the culprit for soft shell eggs. Do you give oyster shell free choice?

 

[IloveChickens3000]

It's not a disease. It's hormonal and nutritional. It's not contagious.

If she's only four months, she just started laying. In which case she will probably outgrow it. It's probably hormonal.

Just provide a little dish of oyster shell (Or yes, crushed egg shells are fine too) and wait it out.

That's what I would do.
The only other thing you could do is isolate her and watch her closely for other symptoms.

Thank you so much, that helped me a lot. I got super worried for her, but now I am a bit calmer. I will give her some egg shells because I have a lot of them.

 

[IloveChickens3000]

I'm so sorry! What do you mean by eggless egg? As in soft shell? Or maybe a lash egg?

When she gave her egg, then the yolk was on the side and the shell was rubbery. I think soft shell.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

They may eat it, especially during times you don't see. Every chicken uses grit on some level, just not much. Oyster shell breaks down faster than conventional grit so they use more of it 'cause it's a calcium supplement.

Do you feed a lot of treats? Do they free range at all? Or is their only access to any food layer feed?

 

[IloveChickens3000]

They may eat it, especially during times you don't see. Every chicken uses grit on some level, just not much. Oyster shell breaks down faster than conventional grit so they use more of it 'cause it's a calcium supplement.

Do you feed a lot of treats? Do they free range at all? Or is their only access to any food layer feed?

They used to be free range, but we made a nice big fence for them 2 days ago and for the past 2 days they were in there. Do you think egg shells will work too? Also my hen is only 4 months old, i think that she got this disease really early for her age.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Hmm. That's a normal soft shelled egg, so I'm not sure. If she's laying she's not likely to be eggbound.

At this point it's out of my knowledge range and I'd suggest a vet. Maybe @casportpony or one of the other members with more health care experience can help you.