Hen laying every 7-10 days HUUUUUGE eggs

[IndigoAngel]

Hello, all!
I have an olive egger who is (I believe) a year old. I received her last fall/early winter, so I didn't expect much egg laying out of her when she first arrived. However, we are now into heavy laying time and this girl is not laying more than once a week, often closer to 10 days. When she does lay an egg it is ginormous- as in how in the world did that small hen lay this giant egg!? They are always double yolkers. We are going on day 10 today and she has started to move a little slowly and is isolating a bit; her tail is still up and she walks normally but did not eat much that I could tell yesterday. I am wondering if I should treat for egg bound, but what I really need to know is what is wrong that is causing this and is there something I can do about it?
TIA for any help offered

 

[azygous]

Get some of this.

Since double ovulation is at work here, not simply large eggs, this is a treatable issue.

Give the hen one whole tablet each day directly in her beak. She will have no problem swallowing it.

It may require several days or even a few weeks on this daily calcium supplement to reset her ovulation to one yolk per cycle. Once that occurs, she should then be set, and she can go back to relying on oyster shell for her calcium source.

This is an issue that should definitely be treated because eventually, this hen will become egg bound.

 

[Mantuck]

Get some of this.View attachment 3135961Since double ovulation is at work here, not simply large eggs, this is a treatable issue.

Give the hen one whole tablet each day directly in her beak. She will have no problem swallowing it.

It may require several days or even a few weeks on this daily calcium supplement to reset her ovulation to one yolk per cycle. Once that occurs, she should then be set, and she can go back to relying on oyster shell for her calcium source.

This is an issue that should definitely be treated because eventually, this end will become egg bound.

What do you do if you dont know which chicken is laying a huge egg? I have 10 red ranger meat hen's that are laying ( they are egg laying machines) double yoke eggs are common but every now and then there is a ginormous egg. Is this a problem? How do take care of it

 

[azygous]

If you can't identify the hen who lays double yolkers, then you can't treat her. The solution to this problem is to figure out which hen lays which eggs.

Even same breed chickens have identifying characteristics. You begin by assigning the chickens names or numbers or paint a nail polish band around their legs.

Then watch the nests diligently to be able to match the hens to the eggs you find in the nests. This can break down even more if you have multiple nests since hens adopt a favorite box to lay.

To sum up, to be able to efficiently manage and treat the individual members of your flock, it's necessary to get to know each of them. The alternative is to expect some to die from time to time.

 

[IndigoAngel]

Get some of this.View attachment 3135961Since double ovulation is at work here, not simply large eggs, this is a treatable issue.

Give the hen one whole tablet each day directly in her beak. She will have no problem swallowing it.

It may require several days or even a few weeks on this daily calcium supplement to reset her ovulation to one yolk per cycle. Once that occurs, she should then be set, and she can go back to relying on oyster shell for her calcium source.

This is an issue that should definitely be treated because eventually, this hen will become egg bound.

Thank you so much! I will get this and pop one in her mouth as close to immediately as possible!

 

[IndigoAngel]

Get some of this.View attachment 3135961Since double ovulation is at work here, not simply large eggs, this is a treatable issue.

Give the hen one whole tablet each day directly in her beak. She will have no problem swallowing it.

It may require several days or even a few weeks on this daily calcium supplement to reset her ovulation to one yolk per cycle. Once that occurs, she should then be set, and she can go back to relying on oyster shell for her calcium source.

This is an issue that should definitely be treated because eventually, this hen will become egg bound.

Okay, I've been giving her the calcium and have also bathed her in water with Epsom salts and she still has not laid an egg. I can feel that there is an egg and can sometimes even see the bulge where it is. She is still eating, drinking, pooping, roosting; in other words, she is acting as normal but I know it's just a matter of time before this is a real problem for her. Any other tips on how to help her lay this egg? I'm actually concerned that it is simply too big for her to lay.

 

[azygous]

How much calcium is she getting? 550mg at least? Maybe double up on it twice a day.

Water. Is she drinking? Add sugar and electrolytes to the water. Be sure she's drinking. If not, she needs to be tubed or syringed.

Is she eating? If she becomes weak, she won't be able to get through this. Is she pooping? If she's pooping, she has more time on her side. If her poop chute is blocked, she is in big trouble.

 

[IndigoAngel]

How much calcium is she getting? 550mg at least? Maybe double up on it twice a day.

Water. Is she drinking? Add sugar and electrolytes to the water. Be sure she's drinking. If not, she needs to be tubed or syringed.

Is she eating? If she becomes weak, she won't be able to get through this. Is she pooping? If she's pooping, she has more time on her side. If her poop chute is blocked, she is in big trouble.

She is eating and drinking as normal; she is pooping but I did not see any cecal poop yesterday. I have her isolated in my "hospital" so I can keep a closer eye on her today. I was only giving her the calcium citrate once a day 400 mg; I gave her 1.5 this morning to increase the dosage. I will add electrolytes to her water today.
I lubed her up yesterday after I gave her the calcium. I was hoping that would make it easier to pass the egg, but nothing happened.

 

[azygous]

Include sugar in her water to give her a boost. You can be giving her two of those 400mg tablets. One in the morning and another later in the day.

 

[IndigoAngel]

Include sugar in her water to give her a boost. You can be giving her two of those 400mg tablets. One in the morning and another later in the day.

Update: Still no egg; internal exam today confirms that there is still an egg there, intact as far as I can tell. I have increased the calcium. She is still eating and drinking, running around, roosting, and pooping, but I have still not seen any cecal poop.
I am at my wit's end with this gal! She is so sweet and still doesn't hate me even after all the invasive and undignified treatment; I cannot stand that she is in imminent peril