I think one of my hens has a shell stuck

[oldclucker]

She is trying to lay an egg but all I have seen is some yolk and what I think is albumen in her nest. She has been molting and laying on and off for several weeks. Some of the shells are very thin. What can I do to help her?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I don't have any advice, just hoping your hen is okay.

 

[aart]

More info needed.
How old is the hen?
Is she otherwise acting OK...eating, drinking, pooping, active?
Are you sure the feather loss is from a molt?
Have you checked her over closely for external parasites?

Eggs laid before, during, and after a molt can be funky, just like when they begin to lay for the first time.

But any other symptoms and info on your flock and coop and what exactly you are feeding,
might help figure out the why and thus the what to do.

 

[oldclucker]

Thank you both for your replies. I think I may have jumped the gun so to speak. Marianne seems just fine this morning and is doing what she usually does. No egg, however. I can only think that she is molting and will be back to business soon.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That's good to hear.