Just the yolk Ma’am

[ssdyle]

It just getting worse. We have 12 hens, one has started laying just the yolk, no, none, nada, not even a little bit of shell. Needless to say it makes a mess of the other eggs in the nesting box. Now it seems that who ever is doing it also craps all over the other eggs. This has happened randomly in the past, we just thought someone was dropping and breaking an egg while laying, but now it’s happening every day. Any ideas what I’m dealing with?
thanks.
Sonny

 

[janiedoe]

Are you feeding a good quality feed with oyster shell in a seperate dish?
If so, it may be that you have someone with an infection. Look for signs of vent gleet too.
I'd add probiotics to their diet or water supply and possible change feed depending on what type you are using. You may also need to cut back on treats.
I'm sure someone else will chime in with more experience in this situation.
Best of luck.

 

[PurpleCArTires]

I am going through the same thing. But my lady is an old biddy. I wish she would stop trying to lay lol. I have read you can try calcium tabs. Also, if they are getting too much calcium it can have the same affect (no shell/softshell). For my lady, i have cut back the treats and when I do treats, i crush up a little egg shell in it. I also add ACV to their water. In the past two weeks, she has only laid twice and both are still soft, so i think mine is due to simply age.

Since yours is a new layer, she might have some genetic disorder too. Try the ACV in the water and/or some oregano in some wet food and see if things improve if it was an infection.

 

[DobieLover]

It just getting worse. We have 12 hens, one has started laying just the yolk, no, none, nada, not even a little bit of shell. Needless to say it makes a mess of the other eggs in the nesting box. Now it seems that who ever is doing it also craps all over the other eggs. This has happened randomly in the past, we just thought someone was dropping and breaking an egg while laying, but now it’s happening every day. Any ideas what I’m dealing with?
thanks.
Sonny

It would be very unusual to just lay an egg yolk. Typically, the bird in question is laying a soft shell or shell-less egg and the others are eating it and making a mess.
As @janiedoe suggests, you need to ensure the flock has a good supplemental calcium source.
Trying to determine which bird is doing it is important. Exam the vent of each bird at night and you may find the victim. She may have a poopy butt or some other tell. When you find her, feed her a calcium CITRATE tablet once a day for 7-10 days and see if that helps. Oyster shell is calcium carbonate. Calcium citrate is easier for the body to process so it is more bioavailable.