Hen laying clumps of shells

[Spoiledchooks]

Dolly is a 1 yr old chantecler BCM cross (both parents pure)
She is a house hen who free ranges on our 4 acre forest property
She is eating/acting normally.. no weightloss/gain
She does occasionally have diarrhea
They eat organic layer feed.
They have been getting finch feed in the evening to drag them inside early before predators come out but I have since stopped in case this is upsetting nutritional balance (white millet, red millet & flax)
She does go into the nest box but doesn’t lay.This has been going on for over a month. Her sister is moulting and stopped laying so I assumed she may be going into moult as well.
About a week ago she laid a small clump of eggshells. A couple days later I found another clump outside at this time I didn’t know who was laying this as her sister is moulting & not laying either so wasn’t sure who until she pooped in front of me and a crumpled up shell came out at the same time.
She could have been laying more of these eggs out in the forest that I haven’t found.
She has always laid what I thought were abnormally small eggs for her size (about 7lbs)
Smaller then her sister who is same breed/size but from different mother
I have started her on nano silver oregano and thyme in case this is some sort of infection
Hoping someone out there knows what this is and can direct
I don’t believe these are lash eggs as what’s described as lash eggs isn’t what she’s laying
It’s literally a small clump of shells that are a bit soft… and rolled up
About the size of a loonie or toonie
Sorry no pics yet

 

[Anon112]

Others probably will have a better sense of what to do, but based on other threads I've read, you might consider doing a short-term calcium supplement. Make sure she has plenty of access to oyster shell.

This could be a reproductive tract issue, and there might not be anything you can do about it if it's not just an infection. If eggs are somehow breaking inside her, that could be very dangerous.

Is it like there's an egg that is breaking, or is it more like a really deformed egg?

Do you have any access to a vet?

 

[Eggcessive]

Calcium citrate with D or a Tums can be given once a day for up to 7 days to see if this is a shell gland problem in the oviduct. But she may be having salpingitis (inflammation of the oviduct) or something else. Stress in the flock from pecking order issues or boredom, roosters, etc can also affect egg shells. Infection bronchitis virus can also affect egg shells and laying. Corrugated egg shells can be a sign. Here is a good price on calcium:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Equate-C...MI0ZCR8uTfjgMVWmVHAR3DuQu-EAQYASABEgKx0fD_BwE

 

[Spoiledchooks]

Ooops yes they have free access to outer shell and gravel forgot to put that
Vet is unfortunately not option.
2.5 hours away one way & wants $175 just to walk in
I’m on my own
No it’s not like a broken egg…
There’s no innards at all
Just a clump of partially developed shells… almost hard but not quite so no sharper edges thank god

 

[Anon112]

Ooops yes they have free access to outer shell and gravel forgot to put that
Vet is unfortunately not option.
2.5 hours away one way & wants $175 just to walk in
I’m on my own
No it’s not like a broken egg…
There’s no innards at all
Just a clump of partially developed shells… almost hard but not quite so no sharper edges thank god

I'm still what I'd consider an advanced-beginner chicken person, but if you can get a picture and post it, I bet others will be able to give you much more specific advice.

It sounds like giving the calcium is your best step, as it won't hurt and at least will give you a data point.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sometimes when they get salpingitis, they may pass parts of egg material, such as membranes, shell, or shell-less egg. Then they also can pass lash egg material or more rarely bloody tissue.

 

[Spoiledchooks]

Sometimes when they get salpingitis, they may pass parts of egg material, such as membranes, shell, or shell-less egg. Then they also can pass lash egg material or more rarely bloody tissue.

Yes.. I started on nano silver oregano & thyme just in case that’s what’s going on